Red kite

Not so long ago, red kites were on the brink of extinction in England and Scotland, due to being heavily persecuted by egg collectors and hunters who saw them as a threat to their livestock and game birds. Thanks to a well-planned reintroduction programme, the sight of red kites soaring effortlessly across our skies has been one of the major conservation success stories of the last 20 years. These graceful birds, which are slightly larger than buzzards, can easily be identified when in flight by...