A young red-billed chough has successfully fledged from a nest at Dover Castle, marking the first such event in Kent for over two centuries, conservationists have announced.
The fledging comes three years after a reintroduction programme, led by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Paradise Park, began restoring the species to the region. The red-billed chough, a member of the crow family, vanished from Kent more than 200 years ago due to habitat loss and persecution.
The bird has strong cultural links with Kent, appearing on pub signs, Canterbury's coat of arms, and in the legend of Thomas Becket, whose blood was said to have stained the bird's red beak and legs. The reintroduction programme aims to introduce up to 50 birds in the South East over five years, with the first cohort released in 2022.
Long-term efforts to restore and manage chalk grassland habitat, including conservation grazing, have created conditions for choughs to forage and breed. Chalk grassland supports a wide array of wildflowers and invertebrates, which provide crucial food sources for choughs during the breeding season.
Liz Corry, chough release supervisor at Wildwood Trust, 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 skies is a major step forward.' Paul Hadaway of Kent Wildlife Trust added: 'A thriving chough population in Kent not only revives a lost species – it also proves the value of restoring rare habitats like chalk grassland.'
