Friends keep spreading their red kites message

Jul 11 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Environment Editor Tony Henderson on how the red kite bandwagon will go on rolling.

RED kite enthusiasts are to continue the work of a five-year project which has reintroduced the birds of prey into the North East.

The Northern Kites Project wraps up at the end of this month, having released 94 young birds in the Derwent Valley in Gateshead.

Over 30 chicks have also now fledged in the wild.

And to ensure that the project’s aims and achievements are continued, the Friends of Red Kites (Fork) was launched yesterday.

Go North East provided one of its red-kite-branded buses for the “rolling” launch along venues in the valley, including the National Trust’s Gibside visitors’ car park, with group members spreading their message.

The Friends plan to make red kite presentations to other groups and communities, staff outdoor events, and run activities like guided red kite walks, and roosting and nesting site-monitoring as well as practical work to help the growing population of the birds.

Bird watcher Ken Sanderson, from Barnard Castle in County Durham, is chairman of the Friends.

He joined the Northern Kites Project as a volunteer in 2004, when he retired.

He said: “When I retired I fell straight into the project, helping to prepare young birds for release.”

Volunteer work also included monitoring and tracking birds. It has been an unbelievable experience to get so close to the birds. Northern Kites has been a fantastic project, with so many people working towards the same goal,” said Ken.

“Part of our work will also be to spread a wider environmental and conservation message.”