RARE bird of prey the Red Kite has returned to Wharfedale.

As part of a nationwide project to reintroduce the Red Kite, 20 of the birds have been released from the Harewood Estate.

The birds will join the very first kites to be released in the area at the same time last year. It is hoped the birds will breed successfully and eventually become a common sight across the area.

David Lascelles, owner of the Harewood Estate, said: "It's a great thrill to see red kites in the skies over Harewood and Wharfedale - a thrill I'm sure any other lover of birds and the natural world will share.

"We've worked hard at Harewood to create and

conserve a natural environment here where kites - and other once common, now threatened species, can thrive. The fact that so many of last year's releases have remained in the area suggests that we have got it at least partly right.

"We now look forward with great anticipation to the first successful nesting in Yorkshire and hope that kites will survive and establish a viable colony in the county."

The release of the kites is the second stage of the three year long Yorkshire Red Kite Restoration Project which aims to establish a population of the birds in the country.

David Hirst, RSPB information officer, said: "This marks another Red Letter Day in this historic project to return these regal birds birds to their rightful place in the skies over Yorkshire.

"Over the past year we have been delighted by the huge amount of interest and support that Yorkshire people have shown in the red kites. The birds have

quickly found a place in the affections of many local people and we are grateful to all those who have helped and supported the project so far."

Jeff Lunn, English Nature's regional manager, said the scheme followed other projects to introduce the birds to Southern England and to the Midlands.

"Working with others to achieve benefits for wildlife is fundamental to the way English Nature works and we are delighted with the success of this project so far.

"The prospect of red kites once again being a familiar sight in the skies throughout England is within our grasp."

The young kites were released earlier this month by pupils from Harewood Primary School. The birds were taken from a successful breeding population now

established in The Chilterns.

Each kite has been fitted with a radio transmitter and coloured wing tags so that their movements can be closely monitored.