WILD CHOUGH RETURNS TO KENT

The wild chough is flying in Kent's skies again after more than two centuries. A young Red-billed Chough has taken flight from a wild nest in Kent for the first time in over two centuries.

The departure was from a nest at Dover Castle, coming three years after its reintroduction, led by the Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park, to re-establish the species in the region.

The Red-billed Chough has strong historical and cultural ties to Kent’s history, appearing on pub signs, the Canterbury coat of arms, and in the legend of the martyr Thomas Becket, whose blood is said to have stained the bird's beak and legs red.

The bird, a member of the crow family, had vanished from the county over 200 years ago due to habitat loss and, more significantly, persecution, environmentalists state. The now-rare birds, which feed on short-vegetation grasslands and heathlands near their cliff-side nests, are now only found on the western fringes of Great Britain, the Isle of Man, and the island of Ireland.

Liz Corry, Release Supervisor at Wildwood Trust, said: 'This is a moment everyone has been hoping for. To see a wild chick not just hatch but fledge and take flight is a major step forward. It confirms that the birds are finding suitable nesting habitat and are pairing up to raise young – exactly what we have been working towards.'

Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation and Engagement at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: 'This project shows what is possible when long-term habitat restoration meets ambitious species recovery. A thriving Chough population in Kent not only brings back a lost species – it also demonstrates the value of restoring rare habitats such as chalk grassland, which are vital for a huge range of wildlife.'"