Red Kite Survives Head Trauma After Kent Car Strike

A critically injured red kite found collapsed on a Kent roadside is now thriving at a wildlife rescue center, defying rescuers' initial fears that it wouldn't survive.

A passerby discovered the bird of prey in Marden with a damaged wing and severe head trauma after it was likely hit by a vehicle. The bird was so badly hurt when Folly Wildlife Rescue arrived that it couldn't even fight back with its sharp talons.

"We don't recommend handling birds of prey without proper training because of their talons, but he was so collapsed when he was found, he didn't put up a fight at all," a spokesperson from the Tunbridge Wells center explained. Staff members weren't sure the red kite would make it through the first half hour.

But the resilient bird surprised everyone. After receiving emergency care, the red kite is now doing well enough to move to an outdoor aviary where it can practice flying again.

The recovery is particularly meaningful given red kites' remarkable comeback story. These majestic birds were completely extinct in England before a conservation program in the 1980s and 1990s successfully reintroduced them.

Today, red kites are a common sight soaring over British roads. They mainly eat carrion, which means they often search for roadkill, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. This feeding behavior unfortunately puts them at risk of vehicle strikes.

The Bright Side

This red kite's recovery represents more than just one bird getting a second chance. It shows how far conservation efforts have come and how dedicated wildlife rescuers are to protecting every individual animal.

The center plans to release the bird back near Marden once veterinarians give the final approval. Soon, this once-collapsed bird will soar over Kent fields again, a living symbol of both natural resilience and human compassion.