10
Tragic News
Just eight months into the Project,
in October 2004, sad news reached
Northern Kites that the corpse of
‘Flash’ had been found in rural
Tynedale, following radio-tracking
work. The body was found close
to rabbit and pheasant carcasses.
After analysis, poisoning using
Carbofuran (a pesticide) was
confi rmed. In January 2005,
Flash’s death was announced
at a press conference at Gateshead Civic Centre, chaired by the Leader of
Gateshead Council. Thanks to the support of its adopting school, Winlaton
West Lane Community Primary,
this was followed by a wave of
public concern about this illegal
act, and the story was extensively
covered in the media. Staff
and children were shocked by
the death of ‘their’ kite. Illegal
poisoning of red kites remains
a not uncommon occurrence
in other reintroduction areas,
particularly northern Scotland but
thankfully this remains the only
known poisoning of a Northern
Kites bird to date.
Year Two (2005)
At April 2005, of the 20 kites released in some of these moving around the North
2004, eighteen were known to be alive, East and, in some instances, out of
the highest survival rate of any Year 1 monitoring contact. There was the fi rst,
release project, since work began on unexpected, breeding attempt, with a
the national programme of releases. pair Ruby and Rufus, building a nest,
May and June brought a mini dispersal but their inexperience showed and the
of the Gateshead-based kites, with nest failed.
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