Red kite returned to the wild after rehab with RSPCA
A red kite that sought to trick RSPCA officers by repeatedly playing dead has been returned to the wild after a period of rehabilitation with the animal welfare charity.
RSPCA Cymru was contacted by vets after a member of the public brought the red kite to them, saying he had been found caught up in fencing and in a collapsed state, and was found near Aberaeron on the mid Wales coast.
He was transferred to wildlife specialists in the west Wales area for a period of rehabilitation before his return to the wild in an area near to where he was found.
The bird was released on February 18.
During rehabilitation, the red kite continually tried to con RSPCA animal rescue officer Ellie West by pretending to be dead whenever she checked on him. This deception is known as thanatosis, and can be used by some birds as a defence mechanism.
But she deployed her own form of trickery to monitor the kite's progress - by positioning mirrors so she could check on the kite without being spotted, because otherwise he would play dead as soon as he was spotted.
Following the kite's return to the wild, she said: "Red kites are absolutely fascinating birds - and this one was certainly a tricky customer, and kept trying to have me on by playing dead.
"I set up mirrors, so we could safely check on the kite from a distance and fortunately the bird was fine despite his ordeal and was soon ready to be returned to the wild, near to where he was found in the Aberaeron area."
