In his talk, Doug Simpson provided a detailed update on the project to reintroduce the Red Kite into Yorkshire. These beautiful birds with their 1.5 metre wingspan and distinctive forked tails are often to be seen in our skies these days. They have a long history in the country: there are records of them feeding in the streets of London in the 15th century, at which time they were protected by law because as scavengers they kept the place clean. Over time, though, they became persecuted. Seen as a threat to food supplies, their legal protection was removed and rewards were offered for their heads. By the mid-1800s they were extinct in England and Scotland, with only a few pairs surviving in remote parts of Central Wales.
The re-introduction process began in the late 1980’s with young kites brought from Spain and Sweden. The Yorkshire project started in 1999 as a partnership between the RSPB, English Nature, Yorkshire Water and the Harewood Estate. Harewood provided a secure site for the birds, all of which were sourced from the Chilterns. Sixty nine were released over a four year period, all fitted with wing-tags and radio transmitters. They have bred successfully, with over 1500 young raised since the project began, and the birds are potentially long-lived. Unfortunately, not everyone sees this as a cause for celebration. Doug’s statistics on illegal poisonings and shootings made for sombre reflection. Red Kites have a vulture-like feeding habit taking not only carrion but also small
mammals and birds, including the young of ground-nesting birds. Out of 26 known Yorkshire poisonings, 22 have occurred in North Yorkshire, in many cases close to grouse moors.
The project encourages members of the public to report sightings and information about Red Kites in their area of Yorkshire. This can be done through their website at www.yorkhireredkites.net which also provides details and regular updates concerning the birds’ progress.
Doug Simpson is Yorkshire Red Kite Coordinator and Project Officer for the original release programme.
