Northern Kites Facts & F
Northern Kites was set up in 2004 to establish a population of red kites in
North East England. It became not only Britain’s most successful project of its
kind, but also the highest profi le wildlife project in the North East, ever!
94 kites were released in three years, the original target for the Project was
‘up to 80 kites in fi ve years’. A world fi rst in large bird of prey conservation
work, in the context of a semi-urban location
With just 12 known deaths of released kites and only one known persecution
incident in the region the Project experienced the lowest level of persecution
and lowest early phase, mortality rate of any red kite release scheme
By 2008, at least 26 pairs of red kites laid eggs and fi fteen pairs successfully
reared at least 23 young. This is the fastest establishment of a sustainable
igures
breeding population of kites in any project of this kind
Over 50,000 Northern Kites leafl ets, 25,000 Red Kite Trail Guides, and
5,000 Northern Kites Information Packs were distributed across the region
Over 58,000 people in the North East attended over 260 red kite events
At least 36,000 schoolchildren in the region found out about red kites through
the Northern Kites’ 107 ‘Adopt-a-Kite’ schools
Up to April 2009, ten red kite research projects were completed by students
from the North East’s universities
Between October 2004 and June 2009, Northern Kites Community
Presentations were delivered to over 150 community groups
Over 24,000 people visited Kitewatch to see breeding red kites
In 2008 alone, it was estimated that over 100,000 people saw red kites in
the Derwent valley
By summer 2009, the Project had featured in over 50 television and 35
radio broadcasts, both regional and national, and in well over 380 articles in
the press
Northern Kites worked with individuals and businesses to produce red kite
related products, such as artwork, food and drink, and other memorabilia,
thereby increasing commercial opportunities
The Northern Kites Project supported 12.5FTE jobs in the local economy,
and generated a minimum of £1.72 million in economic activity, the majority of
which fi ltered through to local companies
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