Red Kite Reintroduction Project Marks Two Decades in North East England

A conservationist recounted experiencing “goosebumps” upon witnessing the arrival of the initial red kites for a new colony, which occurred two decades ago as part of a significant reintroduction initiative. The Northern Kites project introduced nearly 100 of these birds of prey into the lower Derwent Valley, located in Gateshead, Tyneside, during the period from 2004 to 2006. Red kites were once prevalent across Britain; however, habitat destruction led to their near extinction from the nation by the 19th Century. Pat Thompson, an official with the RSPB, expressed being “staggered” that two decades had passed since the program’s inception. This initiative was preceded by several other red kite reintroduction efforts throughout the UK. Mr Thompson noted that the distinguishing feature of the project in north-east England was the team’s “strategic decision” to reintroduce the birds “right on to the edge” of urban areas. He stated, “This is a species that has a long history of being close to people.” The initial birds were transported from the Chilterns region. Mr Thompson remarked, “I remember thinking this is a bit of real history.” He added, “Those first moments, they’re really vulnerable then. You don’t always know how those sorts of animals are going to settle into a new area of habitat.” Mr Thompson explained that during this initial phase, the birds faced significant dangers from other predators, vehicle collisions, and even starvation. He mentioned that the team initially concealed food caches throughout the Derwent Valley, an area covering parts of Gateshead and County Durham, to help the birds adapt to scavenging. Harold Dobson, a volunteer with Friends of the Red Kites who has consistently monitored the birds in the region since 2009, reported that approximately 150 to 170 red kites are currently present in the area. He commented, “The ones we’re seeing now, I suppose you could say are the grandchildren of those first birds.” For updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.