Latest news with #LizCorry
BBC News
08-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wilf-born red-billed chough seen flying in Kent
A rare bird has been seen taking to the skies above Kent for the first time in 200 choughs are native to the UK and are a member of the crow a thriving species in Kent, the birds vanished from the county as a result of habitat loss and hunting.A reintroduction programme has been helping to rear and release chicks with the hope of growing their a young red-billed chough has successfully taken flight from a nest in the wild for the first time in more than two centuries, conservationists have said. Wildwood Trust's Liz Corry, supervisor of the chough's release, said: "This is a moment we've all been hoping for, to see a wild chick not only hatch but fledge and take to the sky is a major step forward to the species re-establishing itself naturally in the region."This is because being able to fly means the chick has reached what is called the fledging stage, by developing wing feathers that are large enough for said that seeing this chick "confirms that the birds are finding suitable nesting habitat, and pairing up to raise young - exactly what we've been working towards."The rare birds are found on grassland and heath with short vegetation, with most making their nests on the sides of chick born in a nest at Dover Castle, seems to be thriving. There is a five-year plan to introduce up to 50 birds in the South East, said the Wildwood said it had been working to create ideal conditions for choughs to forage and breed, such as chalk grassland habitat in East Kent, with a wide range of wildflowers and insects for them to feed Hadaway, director of conservation and engagement at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "A thriving chough population in Kent not only revives a lost species but it proves the value of restoring rare and vital habitats like chalk grassland."The red-billed chough has strong links to Kent, as they are featured on the coat of arms of Canterbury.
BBC News
07-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wild-born chough fledges in Kent for first time in 200 years
A young red-billed chough has successfully taken flight from a nest in the wild in Kent for the first time in more than two centuries, conservationists have said.A nest that was discovered at Dover Castle this spring produced the chick that fledged last month. Once a thriving species in Kent, the birds vanished from the county as a result of habitat loss and Wildlife Trust's Liz Corry, supervisor of the chough's release, said: "This is a moment we've all been hoping for, to see a wild chick not only hatch but fledge and take to the sky is a major step forward to the species re-establishing itself naturally in the region." The trust said this "remarkable milestone" came just three years after the launch of a reintroduction programme led by the trust and Paradise Park. It said the fledging followed last year's nesting attempt, which ended when the chick went missing at the fledging stage during severe weather. The trust added more choughs were due to be released, such as those reared at Wildwood Kent, Wildwood Devon, Paradise Park and Camperdown Wildlife Park. There is a five-year plan to introduce up to 50 birds in the South East, said the said it had been working with landowners, the National Trust and the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership to create ideal conditions for choughs to forage and breed, such as chalk grassland habitat in East Hadaway, director of conservation and engagement at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "A thriving chough population in Kent not only revives a lost species but it proves the value of restoring rare and vital habitats like chalk grassland." The red-billed chough has strong cultural links to Kent; they are featured on the coat of arms of Canterbury, and according to Kentish legend, the chough got its bright red beak and legs by wading in the blood of Thomas Becket, the archbishop murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four reporting by PA.
