The Balearic Islands donate 15 red kite chicks to Andalusia to strengthen the endangered species.

Palma, June 9 (EFEverde).– The Species Protection Service of the Balearic Government's Directorate General for the Natural Environment and Forest Management has coordinated the transfer to Andalusia of 15 red kite chicks (Milvus milvus) born in Mallorca, as part of a project to strengthen the presence of this protected species.

This initiative is part of the reintroduction and population reinforcement project in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park (Jaén), a collaboration that began five years ago and through which 50 chickens have already been donated, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment reported in a statement.

Inter-regional collaboration for biodiversity

Minister Joan Simonet noted that the red kite is a species listed as endangered and stressed "the importance of collaboration between both communities."

Simonet emphasized that, in the 1990s, there were only eight pairs of this species in Mallorca, and currently the population exceeds one hundred. "This population increase allows us to actively participate in the Andalusian reintroduction project," he explained.

The safe extraction of the specimens was possible thanks to the collaboration between various regional and conservation organizations and agencies.

Tracking and marking of Mallorcan chickens

Over the past few months, the Government's Environmental Officers have monitored the breeding population of red kites in Mallorca, locating and monitoring the most accessible nests. The High Altitude Intervention Group (GIA) was responsible for removing them at the optimal time.

Of the selected birds, one group has remained in Mallorca and the other has been transferred to Andalusia. The Balearic Ornithology and Nature Protection Group (GOB), in coordination with the Species Protection Service and with financial support from the Regional Ministry and Endesa Baleares, has banded and tagged the 12 chicks that have remained on the island.

Nine of these chickens have been equipped with satellite transmitters, which will allow their movements to be monitored, territory use to be determined, and potential mortality cases to be detected due to causes such as poisoning, illegal shooting, or electrocution.

Controlled release in Cazorla through hacking

The Consortium for the Recovery of Fauna in the Balearic Islands (Cofib) has identified the 15 donated chicks, which were transferred to the Cofib facilities in Santa Eugènia and monitored until their transfer to the mainland.

The Native Fauna and Habitat Rehabilitation Group (Grefa), responsible for implementing the Andalusian project, was responsible for transporting and releasing the specimens in the Sierra de Cazorla. The technique used, known as "hacking" or free-range breeding, consists of keeping the birds on artificial platforms until they adapt to their environment.

The kites will be marked with official rings, wing tags, and GPS transmitters for satellite tracking after release.

In 2024, Grefa released 48 red kites in Cazorla, originating from the Balearic Islands, Madrid, and Aragon. In addition, last year, the breeding of the male "Mallorca," originally from the islands, was documented in the area for the second consecutive year. EFEverde