Year Three (2006)
In July 2006, Northern Kites
released the final 33 young
kites and brought to a close its
programme of red kite releases,
the total of reintroduced birds
reaching 94 since 2004. The
original goal was to release ‘up to’
80 kites over the five-year lifetime
of the Project. The majority of
the kites released in Gateshead
stayed in the Gateshead area,
with up to 54 different birds being
recorded in the autumn-winter of
2006.
“Geordie”, in 2006, the first northeast red kite to fledge in almost 200 years
The First Northern Kite Chicks
As red kites usually start to breed at two notable were the pair, Flag and Red
to three years old, it was hoped that a Philip, which nested just 120 metres
few of the kites released in 2004 might from the Derwent Walk, where it crosses
start breeding in 2006. The Project’s the Nine Arches Viaduct. Their baby
expectations were exceeded, as despite ‘Geordie’, fledged in late July. These
dreadful spring weather, an unexpectedly three young kites were the first kites to
large number of pairs of kites ‘set up’ fledge in over 170 years in the North
territory in the region in spring 2006. In East. In addition, Scarlet fledged two
total, four pairs laid eggs, and two nests young from a nest near Harrogate, and
successfully hatched chicks. Phoenix it was suspected that a third pair fledged
and the Langleydale Traveller nested a youngster elsewhere in the Derwent
in Teesdale, fledging two chicks. More valley.
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