The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the feeding behaviour of red kites in Switzerland. During lockdowns, reduced traffic led to fewer roadkill animals, which some red kites typically relied on for food. A study by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, canton Lucerne, revealed how the birds adapted to this change. Prior to the lockdowns, red kites would frequent areas near roads when natural food sources were scarce to feed on animal carcasses. However, during the lockdowns, they avoided these areas and instead sought out locations where humans provided food.
After the lockdowns ended, red kites shifted their behaviour again, returning to roadside areas while still utilizing human feeding spots. This adaptability demonstrates how animals can flexibly adjust their behaviour in response to environmental changes, which has been a key factor in the continued success of red kites in Switzerland. The study highlights the subtle yet significant ways human activity influences animal ecology.
To conduct the research, young red kites were fitted with GPS trackers resembling small backpacks, powered by solar panels. These devices allowed researchers to monitor the birds’ movements precisely, collecting data that also contributes to other studies, such as understanding why some red kites now overwinter in Switzerland instead of migrating south. For this study, data from 199 red kites were analysed, with the pandemic providing a unique, large-scale “natural experiment” to observe the effects of human behaviour on wildlife.
