Although the bird had no visible injuries and an autopsy showed nothing out of the ordinary, samples taken from the raptor's throat showed traces of poison. The toxicology report revealed the bird had died after being poisoned with bait containing a high dose of an illegal pesticide.
The red kite had been fitted with a GPS as part of a scientific study prior to its death, which allowed staff to determine the approximate location of the bird at the time of ingestion.
The Nature and Forest Agency has launched an appeal for witnesses who might have spotted meat-based bait in or around Noerdange during the months of July and August 2020. Anyone with information should contact the Agency on 247-56645 or via email at infractions@anf.etat.lu.
The red kite is a protected species in the Grand Duchy.
