HE’S the father of triplets and became a grandad at the age of four. That’s some going for Red Philip. He is one of around 75 red kites living in the Derwent valley, which spans Gateshead and County Durham.

The red kite population has established itself after the introduction of 94 youngsters between 2004 and 2007 from a colony of the birds in the Chilterns.

Now the Friends of Red Kites (FoRK), which has picked up the baton after the Northern Kites project ended two years ago, is building up a series of potted biographies of individual birds.

It is part of a monitoring programme which has seen the logging so far of 24 chicks this year.

As well as the chicks, FoRK volunteers have found a few other surprises in the nests.

Red kites decorate their nests with a variety of objects and the haul so far has included underpants, gloves, socks an England football flag and plastic carrier bags.

Keeping the triplets from the nest at Paddock Hill in the Derwent Valley company was a toy koala bear.

Northern Kites launched a successful scheme through which schools adopted a kite and FoRK has continued this with their Befriend A Kite project.

Although 94 young kites were introduced, the Derwent Valley population is below that figure for several reasons.

“We have had two hard winters and birds are vulnerable in their first year of life,” said FoRK chairman Ken Sanderson.