A Triumph for Conservation

The Red Kite was once a common bird throughout the UK. Persecution led to them becoming almost extinct, with only a small population left in Wales. Since 1989, a project was started to release young European birds into several locations in England and Scotland. In this region, they have been very successful, and it is not uncommon to see large numbers of these birds riding the thermals near ridges and high ground. They are true masters of flight, effortlessly gliding, their long, forked tails twisting to maintain their line. A short video is available here. (Approx 3Mb)