Red Kites Return to the Chilterns
In 1989, the Nature Conservancy Council (English Nature, and now Natural England) and the RSPB launched a project that would return the Red Kite back into England and Scotland.
After strict criteria set out by the World Conservation Union was fulfilled, chicks were brought into the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) from Spain (A programme was also going on in Northern Scotland).
Over a period of five years, more than 90 birds were brought into the Chilterns and released into the wild.
When taking chicks to be relocated, there is always at least one chick left remaining in the donor nest from where it was collected. The birds were placed into pens at a secret release site, and after a few weeks, were eventually released into the open countryside.
The first successful breeding in the Chilterns took place in 1992, and since then numbers have steadily increased to approximately 300/350+ breeding pairs. The birds are still actively monitored by experienced volunteers.
Further reintroduction programmes have taken place in various parts of the country, including Dumfries & Galloway, Central Scotland, East Midlands, Yorkshire,and the Derwent Valley, Gateshead in North East England. The latest project is taking place in Aberdeen, Scotland.
As part of more recent projects, a total of 94 kites were taken from the Chilterns between 2004 and 2006, and transported to the North East for release in the Derwent Valley just outside Gateshead. The project has reported 10 breeding pairs in the area, which is a great success.
In 2007, 15 chicks were collected from nests in the Chilterns, and translocated to Aberdeen, as part of the latest reintroduction project. This project is still ongoing.
The reintroduction programme in the Chilterns has been a huge success, and has received support from local people including farmers, landowners and gamekeepers.
After strict criteria set out by the World Conservation Union was fulfilled, chicks were brought into the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) from Spain (A programme was also going on in Northern Scotland).
Over a period of five years, more than 90 birds were brought into the Chilterns and released into the wild.
When taking chicks to be relocated, there is always at least one chick left remaining in the donor nest from where it was collected. The birds were placed into pens at a secret release site, and after a few weeks, were eventually released into the open countryside.
The first successful breeding in the Chilterns took place in 1992, and since then numbers have steadily increased to approximately 300/350+ breeding pairs. The birds are still actively monitored by experienced volunteers.
Further reintroduction programmes have taken place in various parts of the country, including Dumfries & Galloway, Central Scotland, East Midlands, Yorkshire,and the Derwent Valley, Gateshead in North East England. The latest project is taking place in Aberdeen, Scotland.
As part of more recent projects, a total of 94 kites were taken from the Chilterns between 2004 and 2006, and transported to the North East for release in the Derwent Valley just outside Gateshead. The project has reported 10 breeding pairs in the area, which is a great success.
In 2007, 15 chicks were collected from nests in the Chilterns, and translocated to Aberdeen, as part of the latest reintroduction project. This project is still ongoing.
The reintroduction programme in the Chilterns has been a huge success, and has received support from local people including farmers, landowners and gamekeepers.