Triple treat for Red Kites

31/10/2006

An ambitious scheme to re-introduce a spectacular bird of prey into north east England has been boosted by news that more pairs than first thought have nested this year.

The Northern Kites project team announced today (31 October 2006) that five pairs of red kites nested in the region this year, and three youngsters were successfully raised to fledging - a Hallowe'en 'triple treat' for the project partners.  It’s the first time that kites had nested in the north east for at least 200 years and the project team are delighted at the early success for the project.

The Northern Kites project is managed by the RSPB and Natural England, in partnership with Gateshead Council, Northumbrian Water, Forestry Commission and The National Trust, with additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Trust.  The project team are in no doubt that these pioneering pairs are at the vanguard of a full-scale return by red kites to the region.

Four pairs of red kites nested in woodland in the Derwent Valley near Gateshead, although only one of the nests was eventually successful.  The successful nest was close to the Nine Arches Viaduct on the Derwent Walk and one red kite chick - nicknamed ‘Geordie’ – successfully flew from the nest in July.  Two nests failed because of the inexperience of the parent birds, and one nest was blown down in a gale.

It was originally believed that kites had only nested in the Derwent Valley area, but the project team has revealed that a pair of kites also successfully nested in Teesdale this year, where one pair raised two chicks.  The unexpected discovery raises hopes that kites will spread from the Derwent Valley and settle in other parts of the region.

David Hirst of the RSPB Northern England Region said:  “The news of our Northern Kites just gets better and better.  We were very pleased that one chick had successfully flown from the Derwent Valley nest, but now we know that we actually had five nests and three young ‘home-grown’ red kites this year and that’s just fantastic news.  No one expected the project to be so successful in such a short space of time Jane Boaden, Communications Team Leader of Natural England, added: ”The future looks really bright for red kites in north east England now.  Our challenge over the coming years is to build on the benefits of them being here for both local people and visitors to the region."

The project started in 2004 and the project partners are delighted that kites have nested successfully so quickly.  The project was set up to restore a breeding population of red kites in the region, by translocating birds from nests in the Chilterns and releasing them in Gateshead’s Derwent Valley.  Northern Kites is a world first in attempting to reintroduce red kites so close to a major urban area.

Since 2004, 94 red kites have been released into north east England from two locations in Gateshead’s Derwent Valley at the National Trust Gibside Estate and Northumbrian Water’s Lockhaugh Sewage Treatment works.  As the original target was to release 80 kites over five years, there are no further plans to release more kites.  The project team are confident that more kites will nest successfully next year and that the population will soon become self-sustaining.

On Saturday 18th November, the Northern Kites project team have organised a Red Kite Ramble.  Join the Northern Kites team for a guided walk to track the kites.  The walk starts at 1pm and will take around two hours.  It's free but advance booking is essential - please call 091 496 1555 for more information.

For further information, please contact:
David Hirst, RSPB Northern England Region: 0191 233 4321 or 07885 834889
Jane Boaden, Natural England North East: 0191 229 3385
Keith Bowey, Northern Kites project manager: 0191 496 1555