Aberdeen Lord and Lady Provost to release birds into the wild
18/07/08
Aberdeen’s Lord and Lady Provost Peter and Sandra Stephen will release six birds of prey into the wild on the outskirts of the city on Monday [21 July].
The Lady Provost will name one of the red kites Nicholas, after Aberdeen’s patron saint, St Nicholas, on behalf of the city and then open the cage to release the birds.
This is the second year red kites have been released as part of a three-year project to reintroduce the birds to the wild.
Thirty birds were successfully set loose last year by the Aberdeen Red Kites Project and so far there has only been one known fatality. Over the course of this year more birds will be released at various times.
Companies, schools and groups involved in the project each name one of the birds to be released.
The red kite was once widespread but was heavily persecuted and became extinct in Scotland over 140 years ago. It is hoped the project will re-establish the red kites back into Aberdeen city and shire.
As these are wild birds there is no guarantee of their long-term survival although mortality has so far been very low.
Lady Provost Sandra Stephen commented: “I am a very enthusiastic supporter of wild birds protection programmes. This three-year project is a great way to reintroduce red kites back into the local area.
“It is an honour to name one of the birds on behalf of the city. I felt Nicholas, after St Nicholas, was a name which means something to Aberdeen.”
The Aberdeen Red Kites Project is funded by the RSPB, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Aberdeen Countryside Project through the Landfill Community Fund, and Scottish Natural Heritage, with additional contributions from local businesses the Stewart Milne Group and Raeburn Christie Clarke and Wallace.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
