Information about the Red Kite bird of prey in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Scotland:
In 2007 the Red Kite bird was reintroduced back to the Aberdeen sky for the first time in over 150 years. The Red Kite bird of prey has been persecuted during the 19th century until they became extinct throughout Aberdeenshire. Gamekeepers at the time saw the Red Kite as vermin that threatened the grouse population.
In a secret location outside Aberdeen the Scottish Natural Heritage and MSP Nicol Stephen released 30 Red Kite fledglings. The Aberdeen Red Kites (ARK) project
in conjuction with the RSPB Scotland (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) hope to release 30 more Red Kite birds each year for another two years. It is
hoped with the release of 90 birds that the Red Kite will once more be a familiar site in rural areas of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Scotland and create
a self sustaining population.
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Prior to their secret release the Red Kite young birds were kept in specially designed cages that imitated nesting conditions. Each Red Kite in Aberdeen has been wing tagged, had identification rings on their legs and have been fitted with special radio transmitters so that their movements and habits can be tracked and studied. Local volunteers will track the Red Kites movements and it is also hoped that Aberdonians will help the Red Kite Project in Aberdeen by reporting any sighting of the Red Kite birds of prey.
Big Tam
The red kite chicks were named by different organisations and service in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. One red kite chick was named Big Tam in tribute to Thomas Murray a police officer with Grampian Police whose nickname was Big Tam. Sadly he died from cancer in February 2007 and his fellow officers wanted to name a red chick after him because of his love for hill walking and the Scottish Countryside.
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Feeding Station
Once the Red Kites have settled into the Grampian area a special feeding station will be built and once the Red Kites have become used to feeding from it a viewing area will be set up. It is hoped the feeding station will be ready by Autumn 2007. Funding for the Red Kite Aberdeen project was provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aberdeen Countryside Project through the Landfill Community Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage, Stewart Milne Group, Raeburn, Christie Clarke and Wallace. £48,500 was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It is estimated that there are about 430 breeding pairs of Red Kites throughout the UK since new breeding programmes were introduced throughout Britain, though until 2007 none were in Aberdeen City and the Shire.
The Red Kite can be identified by their reddish brown plumage, forked tail, grey head and white bands near to their wing tips. They are noted for soaring through the skies helped by their 1.5 metre wing span and catching updraughts of thermal currents.
The Red Kite likes to nest near tall trees and woodlands and feed off insects, carrion and will also steel food from other birds. Other birds of prey native to the North East of Scotland are the hen harriers, peregrine falcons, kestrels, barn owls, buzzards, ospreys, sparrow hawks and golden eagles.
If you have a photo of a Red Kite in Aberdeen that I may use on this page then please contact me.
About Aberdeen would like to thank Helen Olive of redkites.net for the two photographs of red kites on this page. RedKites contains more stunning photos of
Red Kites along with the latest Red Kite news, information and the history of the reintroduction project for Red kites. Helen was part of the Red Kite monitoring
team in the Chilterns and helped to collect the Red Kite chicks that are now living free in Aberdeen and the Shire. RedKites also contains local red kite contact
details and a large gallery of red kite images. Visit www.redkites.net for more info and to see more pictures.
In 2007 the Red Kite bird was reintroduced back to the Aberdeen sky for the first time in over 150 years. The Red Kite bird of prey has been persecuted during the 19th century until they became extinct throughout Aberdeenshire. Gamekeepers at the time saw the Red Kite as vermin that threatened the grouse population.
