18 November, 2017 01:00
THE highest number of fledging
Red Kite chicks on record has been reached this year.
Twenty territorial pairs have
been recorded in Northern Ireland, with 13 of them successfully fledging 28
chicks - a new record.
Next year will mark 10 years
since the ground-breaking reintroduction of red kites, after they were
persecuted to near-extinction around 200 years ago.
But, the RSBP says, despite the
growing numbers, the north are still a long way from reaching a sustainable red
kite population, with a young red kite was found dead after being shot near
Moneyslane, Co Down in August.
It has launched `RKites', a
partnership project reaching out to 40 Co Down and Armagh in communities where
the red kites are present, and also working alongside the Mourne Heritage
Trust's Youth Rangers programme.
The project is funded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund, RSPB, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Armagh
City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, with support from the Northern
Ireland Raptor Study Group and the Mourne Heritage Trust.
Joanne Sherwood, RSPB director
at, said: "The name ‘RKites' relates to red kites and to the fact that
they are indeed our kites.
"It's up to all of us to
support these iconic birds and to ensure that we can cherish and protect them
and give them a home in Northern Ireland for years to come."
Paul Mullan, head of Heritage
Lottery Fund, said it is "delighted" to support the project.
No comments:
Post a Comment