Chris Monk
Well-known member
From the Birdguides web site 3/7:
Red Kites May Soar Again In North East Skies: Plans Unveiled to Bring Rare
Birds Back To The Region
One of the UK's rarest and most stunning birds could return to long-lost
haunts in the northeast of England next year, after plans to re-introduce
Red Kites to the region were announced today by English Nature and The RSPB
on behalf of a partnership that includes Gateshead Council, Northumbrian
Water, The National Trust and Forest Enterprise.
Once common throughout the country, the Red Kite is now one of the UK's
rarest birds of prey. The kite's distinctive profile of raked back wings and
forked tail was once a familiar sight in the skies over northern England.
However, human persecution took its toll on the kites and the birds became
extinct in the region more than 130 years ago.
Until recently the only Red Kites left in Britain were restricted to a small
area of central Wales. However, during the past fifteen years young Red
Kites have been translocated from healthy breeding populations and released
into the wild in suitable areas of England and Scotland. This work, overseen
jointly by English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB, has seen
breeding populations successfully established in several areas of the UK
from the southeast of England to the north of Scotland.
New proposals have now been put forward by English Nature and the RSPB to
extend this work into northeast England. The proposal has already attracted
the support of a number of key organisations that share the vision of
establishing Red Kites in the North East. Northumbrian Water, Gateshead
Council, The National Trust and Forest Enterprise are all supporting the
project. Gateshead Council have pledged £50,000 per year to the project and
Northumbrian Water £15,000 for each of the first two years.
If additional support and funding can be found then the first group of up to
30 Red Kites could be soaring in northeast skies as early as next summer.
The proposals put forward by the North East Red Kite Project include:
Identification of a suitable site in the Derwent Valley close to the
Newcastle-Gateshead urban fringe to base the project and release the kites.
Recruitment of a project team who will oversee the return of the kites,
develop education opportunities, and work closely with local communities to
provide kite viewing facilities.
The arrival in June 2004 of the first Red Kite chicks and their release into
the wild later that summer.
An extensive public events and education programme linked to the kites.
The proposal is for the project to run for five years, with releases of
kites taking place each year. If all goes to plan, then the conservation
organisations hope that Red Kites will once again become a regular sight in
northeast skies and a self-sustaining breeding population will be
established in the region.
John Barrett of English Nature, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be
taking the first steps towards restoring this magnificent bird to its
rightful place in the northeast countryside. The support of such a diverse
range of partners is a fantastic boost to our plans and we look forward to
working with them and the people of the northeast to ensure the success of
this project".
Patrick Thompson of the RSPB added: "Red Kites are beautiful and majestic
birds and popular with the public. Evidence from other re-introduction areas
suggests that local communities, tourism and the regional economy have all
benefited from the return of the Red Kite."
Councillor Michael McNestry, Gateshead Council Cabinet member with
responsibility for the Local Environment, said: "We are very happy to
support this project, which builds on the considerable work we are already
doing to enhance wildlife in Gateshead.
"We have seen what Ospreys have done to boost the Lake District's economy
and I'm confident that this project can do something similar for Gateshead.
I hope that, in the near future, the sight of Red Kites soaring over the
River Derwent will become a familiar one to visitors and local people."
Dr Chris Spray, Northumbrian Water's Environment Director said: "Providing
opportunities for people to appreciate, watch and learn from wildlife is
important to our company and Northumbrian Water is consequently proud to be
a partner in the re-introduction of kites to the North East.
"Much wildlife is often to be found in the rural areas and the major
challenge is getting the environmental message into urban areas. We believe
that kites released close to Tyneside will carry that message in flight to
those who live in the towns and cities."
Graham Gill, Forest Enterprise, Forest Manager said: "We hope our woods in
the Derwent Valley will become nest sites for the Red Kites in future. In
Chopwell Wood, we already have a very active environmental education
programme run by our Ranger along with the local community group, the
Friends of Chopwell Wood, and we are excited about the possibility of adding
Red Kite as a wildlife viewing opportunity."
Evidence for the former presence of Red Kites in the region includes
historical records of local names - 'swallow-tailed falcon' - and 'Glead' or
'Glede' (from the Anglo-Saxon word for 'to glide'). Several northeast
placenames also hint at the past presence of the birds including Gleed Hill,
Gled Law and Gledscleugh.
The North East Red Kite Project is a partnership supported by English
Nature, The RSPB, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, Northumbrian
Water, The National Trust, and Forest Enterprise.
David Hirst, RSPB
Thursday 3 July 2003
For further information contact: Pat Thompson, RSPB North of England Office:
0191 2126119; John Barrett, English Nature, 01661 845500; David Hirst, RSPB
regional press officer: 0191 2126121/07885 834889.
The Red Kite re-introduction project was initiated in 1989 by the former
Nature Conservancy Council and the RSPB when young Red Kites were released
at sites in southern England and northern Scotland. From 1989 to 1994 a
total of 93 kites were released at each of the two sites, those released in
England coming from Spain and those in Scotland from Sweden. New release
schemes began in the English Midlands in 1995, in central Scotland in 1996,
West Yorkshire in 1999 and southwest Scotland in 2001.
Red Kites May Soar Again In North East Skies: Plans Unveiled to Bring Rare
Birds Back To The Region
One of the UK's rarest and most stunning birds could return to long-lost
haunts in the northeast of England next year, after plans to re-introduce
Red Kites to the region were announced today by English Nature and The RSPB
on behalf of a partnership that includes Gateshead Council, Northumbrian
Water, The National Trust and Forest Enterprise.
Once common throughout the country, the Red Kite is now one of the UK's
rarest birds of prey. The kite's distinctive profile of raked back wings and
forked tail was once a familiar sight in the skies over northern England.
However, human persecution took its toll on the kites and the birds became
extinct in the region more than 130 years ago.
Until recently the only Red Kites left in Britain were restricted to a small
area of central Wales. However, during the past fifteen years young Red
Kites have been translocated from healthy breeding populations and released
into the wild in suitable areas of England and Scotland. This work, overseen
jointly by English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB, has seen
breeding populations successfully established in several areas of the UK
from the southeast of England to the north of Scotland.
New proposals have now been put forward by English Nature and the RSPB to
extend this work into northeast England. The proposal has already attracted
the support of a number of key organisations that share the vision of
establishing Red Kites in the North East. Northumbrian Water, Gateshead
Council, The National Trust and Forest Enterprise are all supporting the
project. Gateshead Council have pledged £50,000 per year to the project and
Northumbrian Water £15,000 for each of the first two years.
If additional support and funding can be found then the first group of up to
30 Red Kites could be soaring in northeast skies as early as next summer.
The proposals put forward by the North East Red Kite Project include:
Identification of a suitable site in the Derwent Valley close to the
Newcastle-Gateshead urban fringe to base the project and release the kites.
Recruitment of a project team who will oversee the return of the kites,
develop education opportunities, and work closely with local communities to
provide kite viewing facilities.
The arrival in June 2004 of the first Red Kite chicks and their release into
the wild later that summer.
An extensive public events and education programme linked to the kites.
The proposal is for the project to run for five years, with releases of
kites taking place each year. If all goes to plan, then the conservation
organisations hope that Red Kites will once again become a regular sight in
northeast skies and a self-sustaining breeding population will be
established in the region.
John Barrett of English Nature, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be
taking the first steps towards restoring this magnificent bird to its
rightful place in the northeast countryside. The support of such a diverse
range of partners is a fantastic boost to our plans and we look forward to
working with them and the people of the northeast to ensure the success of
this project".
Patrick Thompson of the RSPB added: "Red Kites are beautiful and majestic
birds and popular with the public. Evidence from other re-introduction areas
suggests that local communities, tourism and the regional economy have all
benefited from the return of the Red Kite."
Councillor Michael McNestry, Gateshead Council Cabinet member with
responsibility for the Local Environment, said: "We are very happy to
support this project, which builds on the considerable work we are already
doing to enhance wildlife in Gateshead.
"We have seen what Ospreys have done to boost the Lake District's economy
and I'm confident that this project can do something similar for Gateshead.
I hope that, in the near future, the sight of Red Kites soaring over the
River Derwent will become a familiar one to visitors and local people."
Dr Chris Spray, Northumbrian Water's Environment Director said: "Providing
opportunities for people to appreciate, watch and learn from wildlife is
important to our company and Northumbrian Water is consequently proud to be
a partner in the re-introduction of kites to the North East.
"Much wildlife is often to be found in the rural areas and the major
challenge is getting the environmental message into urban areas. We believe
that kites released close to Tyneside will carry that message in flight to
those who live in the towns and cities."
Graham Gill, Forest Enterprise, Forest Manager said: "We hope our woods in
the Derwent Valley will become nest sites for the Red Kites in future. In
Chopwell Wood, we already have a very active environmental education
programme run by our Ranger along with the local community group, the
Friends of Chopwell Wood, and we are excited about the possibility of adding
Red Kite as a wildlife viewing opportunity."
Evidence for the former presence of Red Kites in the region includes
historical records of local names - 'swallow-tailed falcon' - and 'Glead' or
'Glede' (from the Anglo-Saxon word for 'to glide'). Several northeast
placenames also hint at the past presence of the birds including Gleed Hill,
Gled Law and Gledscleugh.
The North East Red Kite Project is a partnership supported by English
Nature, The RSPB, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, Northumbrian
Water, The National Trust, and Forest Enterprise.
David Hirst, RSPB
Thursday 3 July 2003
For further information contact: Pat Thompson, RSPB North of England Office:
0191 2126119; John Barrett, English Nature, 01661 845500; David Hirst, RSPB
regional press officer: 0191 2126121/07885 834889.
The Red Kite re-introduction project was initiated in 1989 by the former
Nature Conservancy Council and the RSPB when young Red Kites were released
at sites in southern England and northern Scotland. From 1989 to 1994 a
total of 93 kites were released at each of the two sites, those released in
England coming from Spain and those in Scotland from Sweden. New release
schemes began in the English Midlands in 1995, in central Scotland in 1996,
West Yorkshire in 1999 and southwest Scotland in 2001.
