The white-tailed kite, a hawk species, faces a significant population decline in Orange County, yet UC Irvine and nearby University Hills remain vital habitats. Bird scientist and campus reserves manager Julie Coffey leads a program to protect these raptors, involving university and community members.
Ms. Coffey observes the birds are adapting to urban edges, finding suitable, leafy trees on campus and in University Hills, a residential area for UC Irvine faculty and staff. Despite 30,000 acres of protected land in the county, kites are no longer using these spaces for nesting or hunting. She attributes the shift and decline to climate change, invasive species, and increased wildfires altering the landscape.
Historically, hundreds of white-tailed kites occupied areas like the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve in the 1970s. Orange County once had 70 kite territories, with about 20 occupied annually; now, only five to seven active territories remain. UC Irvine hosts two consistently successful nesting pairs, critical because other attempts in the county, including at the UC Irvine marsh, frequently fail. Ms. Coffey states it is the university's responsibility to maintain this essential habitat.
The conservation campaign is supported by UC Irvine’s Campus Planning & Sustainability unit, with raptor biologist Pete Bloom providing expertise. The team, including student volunteers, uses lightweight electronic transmitters on four birds to track movements every five minutes. This technology helps monitor ranging patterns and locate birds in distress. A dead kite found in the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve in June will be tested for West Nile virus or rodenticides; Ms. Coffey notes "pretty bad mortality" for the species.
University Hills residents are assisting by managing outdoor areas to deter crows, which attack juvenile kites. Removing food waste after gatherings helps reduce crow presence, a practice Ms. Coffey credits residents for adopting. Efforts also focus on discouraging rodenticide use, as kites can ingest poisons through prey. Ms. Coffey advocates for snap traps and birth control, aligning with UC Cooperative Extension advice, to protect the birds from secondary poisoning.
Human landscaping choices impact the kites. While large, leafy trees planted by people offer beneficial habitat, manicured landscapes and common rodent control methods can hinder the birds' ability to hunt effectively. Ms. Coffey's team continues to learn more about kite habits through tracking, aiming to encourage shifts in human behavior, such as mindful tree trimming and trash management, to support the species’ survival in Irvine.
