As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Red Kite or Chough? Which should Wales pick as its national bird?

21:27, 4 JUL 2016

Bird Notes columnist Julian Hughes of RSPB Conwy assesses the options - and outlines where to go birding in the coming days

Until relatively recently the Red Kite could only be seen flying above Wales

The brilliance of our boys in red have brought pride to Wales in recent weeks, but shouldn’t we be equally proud of our nation’s birds?

In 2007, a BBC Wales / RSPB Cymru poll chose the Red Kite as our national bird. It is also is the emblem of the Welsh Ornithological Society, so shouldn’t we be making more of this wonderful raptor?

Until the late 1980s, Wales was the only place in Britain to see a Red Kite. Thanks to reintroductions, they are increasingly widespread in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and seen regularly along the North Wales coast. A great success story.

Other birds now arguably better merit the tag, such as the Chough, since Wales is home to a considerable portion of the European population; or Manx Shearwater, since half the world population nests in Wales.

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