First Red kites chicks for 150 years hatch in Aberdeenshire

03/06/2009 15:19:42 Red kite re-introduction boost
June 2009. For the first time in almost 150 years red kite chicks have hatched in Aberdeenshire and the public are being offered the chance to keep up with their progress via two new CCTV viewing points. The chicks were raised by birds released two years ago as part of the Aberdeen Red Kites re-introduction project, which will have released almost 100 of the birds by the end of the summer.

Jenny Lennon, the Aberdeen Red Kites project officer said, "It's fantastic to see our recently re-introduced birds raising their first chicks. Being new parents they still have a lot to do to make sure their chicks successfully fledge, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that they'll make it"

3 year project
Aberdeen Red Kites is a three year project to reintroduce kites to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. 30 birds were released in 2007, 35 in 2008 and another 30-35 will be released in July this year. Many of the birds have been named by schools and local business.

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scotland, said: "What a thrill! These chicks are the pinnacle of success for this project and mark the beginning of a new era for the Red Kite in Aberdeen. The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to have been able to help reverse the fate of these rare birds. They are part of Scotland's heritage and their spectacular antics can be enjoyed

CCTV pictures from the nest, in association with Forestry Commission Scotland, will be beamed to two points in the city for the public to view, VSA Easter Anguston and St Nicholas Kirk. RSPB staff and volunteers will be at VSA Easter Anguston Farm just off the North Deeside road beyond Culter, at the weekends from 10am-4pm to show the public live pictures from the nest and on Thursdays and Fridays from 12noon to 4pm RSPB staff and volunteers will be at St Nicholas Kirk in the city centre, with the latest recorded nest footage. The public will be able to see the nest pictures until the chicks fledge and leave the nest in mid-July.

The Aberdeen Red Kites project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aberdeen Greenspace through the Landfill Community Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage, with additional contributions from local businesses Stewart Milne Group and Raeburn, Christie, Clarke and Wallace.

For more information about the project click here.