Red kites show the way to go greener
Nov 17 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
THE habits of the North East’s red kites are being used to persuade children to adopt green ways.
The Northern Kites Project and Gateshead Council have sent 60,000 leaflets to all schools in Gateshead, and all Adopt-a-Kite schools across the region.
The leaflets explain how kites, which eat mainly carrion, recycle dead animals.
It also says that the birds’ practice of using plastic bags, wool items and old material reduces waste, while their habit of soaring means they use less energy.
Michael McNestry, environment portfolio holder for Gateshead Council, said: “Gateshead Council has worked in partnership with Northern Kites to develop an education package that can help pupils and their families learn about sustainability and encourage more sustainable actions by using the red kites as a guide.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle-based professional photographer Kaleel Zibe has been commissioned by the RSPB to take photographs of its Northern Kites Project in Gateshead’s Lower Derwent Valley.
His pictures will appear in the RSPB’s BIRDS magazine, which is read by over two million RSPB members.
Formerly managing director of North East ink specialists Multichem Ltd, Kaleel stepped down from the family business in 2007 to start his photography business.
He said: “It’s great to be involved in such a positive and successful conservation project. I’ve always been fascinated by the kites and am very interested in conservation of wildlife in general, so I jumped at the opportunity to photograph these wonderful birds.
“This commission has been particularly interesting for me because the kites are in a semi-urban setting. The local community is very involved in the project at every level, from schools upwards and I’ve been photographing not only the birds and their environment, but also how the locals have adopted them.”
Keith Bowey, project manager at Northern Kites, said: “One of the things that has heartened, and somewhat surprised, the Northern Kites Team in recent years, is the extent to which so many artists and photographers have been inspired by the kites as a source of visual inspiration.
“Over recent months Kaleel has been working, very successfully, not only to capture the beauty of the kites themselves but the impact they have made in the North East since their return in 2004.”
