Red kites are flying high in the North East

Jun 19 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

IT’S upwards and onwards for the red kite population in the North East, experts predicted yesterday.

National Trust staff and members of the Friends of Red Kites were ringing and wing tagging chicks at nests on the Gibside estate in the Derwent Valley yesterday.

Phil Bolam, trust landscape manager at Gibside, said that the father of two of the chicks had itself been ringed in the nest on the estate two years ago.

He said: “It shows that the birds are staying in the area and are setting up territories.

“It looks like we are heading towards a healthy and sustainable population. It seems like we are going in the right direction.”

A total of 94 young red kites from a population in the Chilterns in south east England were released in the Derwent Valley in Gateshead and County Durham between 2003-07.

The funded Northern Kites project ended a year ago and conservation work to help the birds has been taken on by the Friends of Red Kites.

Chairman Ken Sanderson said that three chicks had been produced in 206, 11 in 2007, and at least 21 in 2009.

So far this year 10 chicks had been ringed but there are more nests to check.

“How many we will ring this year is anybody’s guess but there seem to be more active nests this year than last,” said Ken.

The birds are nesting at locations including Gibside, Rowlands Gill, Blaydon Burn, Causey Gill, Hamsterley Hall, Derwentcote, and Chopwell Woods.

“It is fantastic news and the hope is that they continue to expand across the North East,” said Ken.

“The fact that the red kite ringed at Gibside two years ago is now breeding shows that it is a healthy population.”

As well as ringing and nest monitoring, the Friends of Red Kites undertake community visits and presentations, and lead kite walks and safaris.

Red kite watching sessions are also held every Sunday in June and July from Kite Hill viewpoint near Winlaton Mill car park in the Derwent Valley.

Around 2,000 people have attended events in the Friends’ first year.

For more details go to www.friendsofredkites.org.uk.