Aberdeen red kites

Project officer Jenny Lennon with one of the kites at the press call

Red kites are returning to Aberdeen in an exciting new project which will give the public a chance to get closer to these magnificent birds of prey.

During the middle ages, the red kite was one of our most common birds of prey. They fed in city streets and were given special protection for their useful street cleansing role. However, persecution and poisoning drove them to extinction in Scotland, and they haven’t nested in the Aberdeen area since the 19th century.

Recent reintroduction schemes have had mixed success. Kites have been unable to cross upland estates safely, and so have not established in the lowlands east of the Grampian Highlands.

'We hope it will become a popular wildlife spectacle on the edge of one of our largest cities.'

This summer, RSPB Scotland is starting a project to reintroduce 90 birds over three years to the outskirts of Aberdeen City, with the ultimate aim of establishing a breeding population in one of the largest remaining range gaps for red kites in Britain.

Funding and partnership support has come from The National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aberdeen Countryside Project through the Landfill Communities Fund, and Scottish Natural Heritage, with a further donation from local business supporter, the Stewart Milne Group.

The kites will be released in late July/early August, and will be tagged and radio tracked . This will allow the team to see where they go after release.

Once the birds have dispersed, a supplementary feeding site will be set up on the outskirts of Aberdeen, which will help support the young birds over the winter and also allow local people a close-up view of these spectacular birds. This will provide the opportunity for many young people and local volunteers to get involved, as well as raising awareness of birds of prey and other conservation issues.

Hopefully, it will become a popular wildlife spectacle on the edge of one of our largest cities.

Last modified: 18 June 2007

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