THIRTY spectacular birds of prey have been released into the heart of the Lake District.
The release of the red kites by the Forestry Commission has taken two years to plan, and is the first phase of the landmark final reintroduction of the birds in England.
Taken as hatchlings from a Forestry Commission site in Northamptonshire, the red kites have spent the past month growing in a specially constructed pen hidden at a secret location within Grizedale Forest.
Forestry Commission wildlife ranger Iain Yoxall released the birds along with Karl Ivens, Forestry Commission chief wildlife ranger for the Northamptonshire and Sherwood Forest district.
“It has gone very well,” said Mr Yoxall. “There were some reluctant birds but they came out soon enough and the birds reacted just as we thought they would.
“This is a real conservation coup for the Forestry Commission and for the area to bring back a species that has been missing for so long. I’m really proud.”
Another 60 birds will be released over the next two years Around half a dozen of the kites released at Grizedale are carrying radio transmitters. This will allow the forest’s wildlife rangers to monitor their progress and help judge the scheme’s success.
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