RAF Benson has backed a campaign against feeding red kites after recent incidents when birds have struck or narrowly avoided military aircraft.

The military base, which has seen two ‘birdstrikes’ in the last year, has pledged its support to parish and town councils, including Cholsey and Wallingford, which are discouraging residents from feeding red kites to halt the growing population in the local area.

An RAF spokesman said: “Big birds of prey and aircraft are never a good mix.”

READ MORE: BunkFest 2023: How the Wallingford festival grew and grew

Of the two birdstrikes this year, one involved a red kite. From the beginning of 2020 to July 2023, there were 20 birdstrikes both on and off the airfield.

Due to their size and weight, red kites cause greater damage to aircraft than other bird types.

They are also less deterred by bird control measures, such as noise scaring, because they often fly high above the airfield’s wildlife control operatives.

In a recent incident, an aircraft returning to RAF Benson was forced to change its flight path when around 15 red kites were spotted above, below, and ahead of it. A safe landing was still conducted, a summary of the air safety report from the flight said.

An RAF Spokesman said: “RAF Benson has an active wildlife management plan to mitigate birdstrike risk for its helicopters, this includes asking the local community to help, by not feeding kites in the vicinity of the aerodrome.

“This strategy is fully endorsed by Natural England, as it also helps the birds avoid the risk of being hit by our aircraft.”

READ MORE: Police officer caught 'shoplifting' faces misconduct hearing

At a Wallingford Town Council meeting on August 21, group captain Christian Royston-Airey, station commander of RAF Benson, described to councillors the significant and costly damage that could be caused to aircraft by a bird strike.

His comments came after the council launched its campaign against feeding red kites after several reports of the birds swooping down and stealing food from parks.

One resident reported on social media they had received “a right old thump on the head” when a red kite swooped on them at the Bull Croft park, while another said they had received “scratches on my hand” from a similar incident near Waitrose.

In response, the council put around 20 posters in the Kinecroft, the Bull Croft, and the moorings by the River Thames which warned people against feeding the birds.

Cllr Steve Holder said no further incidents had been reported since the campaign began.

He said: “We’re obviously not going to get anyone calling up to say they used to feed the red kites and now don’t, but hopefully it’s hit a nerve and they have been convinced to stop by guilt.

“They’ve been given an indication of what happens when you do feed them.”