Thirty rare birds of prey soared over the Lake District fells for the first time in a century this week.
A group of red kites was released into the wild at Grizedale Forest in a landmark reintroduction programme.
Run by the Forestry Commission, their release was the first time red kites were seen in the skies of the north west for more than 100 years.
Iain Yoxall,wildlife ranger for the Forestry Commission at Grizedale, has been heading the project.He said: “It went very well. We are really pleased with them. They took a little bit of encouragement to leave the pens, but it’s to be expected. It’s been their home for the past four or five weeks.
“In the first few moments of freedom, they all seemed very happy. We had one bird in the tree while the others were soaring around.
“The main reason behind it is that the birds aren’t dispersing as rapidly as we first expected them to.
“It’s going to boost the process and speed up what could take many decades to do naturally.
“It’s prime habitat. We’ve got woodland ready for nesting and lots of open fells to support ample food supplies. We’ve had a very positive response. It’s been brilliant.”
Red kites are coloured chestnut red, with a forked tail. Last month Forestry Commission wildlife rangers from Grizedale brought 30 chicks from Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire.
Grizedale wildlife rangers will continue to feed the birds for another two to four weeks while they adapt to freedom and finding their own food. Slowly, the rangers will wean them off until they are entirely self-sufficient.
There will be three releases of 30 red kites over the next three years, totalling 90 birds in the area
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