
Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate sightings of wild choughs
A bird that has been extinct in Kent for two centuries has been spotted in the county.Red-billed choughs, a member of the crow family, were wiped out by changes in farming practices.A project by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park saw captive-bred birds released near Dover in 2023.Choughs have now been seen flying in Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs.
Liz Cory, from Wildwood Trust, said: "We'd been using GPS to track the birds and had a sneaky suspicion they were venturing further afield. The tags only collect location fixes every two hours so we had gaps in the data."I started receiving reports from bird watchers of choughs flying over places like King George VI Memorial Park and Walpole Bay."
With more captive-bred birds due for release, the charities are asking members of the public to report any sightings of the distinctive birds.Paul Hadaway from the Kent Wildlife Trust said: "These birds are not just a symbol of success for this project, they're indicators of a healthier, more resilient landscape."By helping to rebuild the natural systems in key habitats like rare chalk grassland, we're able to bring back lost species like the chough."These restored systems can then support biodiversity, climate resilience, and community connection to the land."In the long term it is hoped to expand the release programme so isolated breeding colonies can be connected along the south coast, in a bid to emulate the chough's successful reintroduction in Cornwall.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
An endangered species of camel is born at a British zoo
Video released by the Whipsnade Zoo in England shows an endangered baby male Bactrian camel calf walking in a paddock with its mother Orla.


BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Peregrine falcon chick hatches at St Albans Cathedral
A peregrine falcon chick has successfully hatched after its parents' first set of eggs – known as a clutch – was destroyed by a chick is the first to hatch this year at St Albans Cathedral, with the new baby seen on a live belonging to the birds of prey were deliberately smashed in April, but the pair of falcons were not deterred and laid a second clutch."We're delighted to see the wonderful comeback these birds have made, demonstrating just how resilient they are," said Lea Ellis, engagement manager at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. The peregrine is a species of large crow-sized falcon and can travel at more than 200mph (320 km/h), making it the fastest diving bird in the falcon pair - who were named Alban and Boudica after local historical figures - captured the public's interest since producing chicks every year since new chick emerged on Monday from one of three eggs, with onlookers waiting to see if any brothers or sisters would Ellis said: "The hatching of their first chick this year signifies hope, and I am optimistic that we will see more chicks on the nest tray in the very near future."It is not unusual for the eggs to hatch hours or days apart and sometimes eggs do not hatch, as they can be infertile." She added: "For those watching the webcam, there will be times when the parents will be out of sight, but I'd urge people not to worry about this, as they will be close by to protect the chick or chicks."Hertfordshire Police opened an investigation into the vandalised clutch in April and previously said inquiries were "ongoing". Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
New nature reserve to return rainforests to Yorkshire Dales
A new temperate rainforest in the Yorkshire Dales could prove to be a "vital oasis" for wildlife, people behind the scheme would be planted on a 16-hectare (40 acre) site at Park Gill near Kettlewell, to encourage the growth of mosses and create a carpet of ferns and flowers, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) rainforests used to grow along the damper western parts of the British Isles, but were largely destroyed over hundreds of years by grazing and conversion to other uses, the trust Leadley, north regional manager at YWT, said the new reserve would "give us a great opportunity to restore and expand this fantastic habitat". Temperate rainforest - also known as Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforest - is the name given to rainforests which have high rainfall and humidity and a low annual variation in temperature.A wide range of trees grow in them, including sessile oak, birch, rowan, holly, alder, willow and hazel. The YWT said they can provide a home to red squirrels and pine martens, as well as threatened birds like wood warblers, redstarts and pied Leadley said: "Woodland is at a premium in this part of the Dales, and species such as black grouse which cling on in the area will also benefit from more berry-bearing bushes such as hawthorn in the landscape."This new reserve promises to be a vital oasis for wildlife in the Dales, and we cannot wait to see what wildlife it attracts as a result."We hope this beautiful site will be a haven for wildlife and a beautiful place for people to enjoy." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.