 Six red kites have been released in the Derwent Valley |
A group of endangered birds of prey have been released into a semi-urban environment on Tyneside. The red kites, which have a wingspan of five-and-a-half feet, have been released in Gateshead's Derwent Valley.
The birds have been absent from the north-east of England for around 150 years.
The scheme's organisers, the Red Kite Initiative, hope to eventually release around 20 birds during the summer.
The Northern Kites Initiative is a five-year scheme, led by English Nature and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, in partnership with Gateshead Council, the National Trust, Northumbrian Water and the Forestry Commission.
Around �1m has been raised with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Environmental Trust.
The chicks were brought to the region in June from Oxfordshire.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
