A baby bird has made history by becoming the first wild red-billed chough to fledge in Kent in more than two centuries.
The chick, with its fiery red beak and glossy jet-black feathers, flapped into the skies last month from a secret nest tucked in the medieval walls of Dover Castle.
It marks a major win for conservationists, who only began reintroducing the rare species to Kent three years ago.
Once common in Kent, the chough vanished in the 1800s due to habitat loss and persecution.
But now, thanks to a team from Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Paradise Park, they are finally making a comeback.
Liz Corry, who oversees the reintroduction, 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.
“It confirms that the birds are finding suitable nesting habitat, and pairing up to raise young – exactly what we’ve been working towards.”
The success follows heartbreak last year, when the project’s first chick disappeared during stormy weather.
But this time, the fledgling has survived and is already making itself at home above the White Cliffs.
And the timing couldn’t be better as this summer marks the third season of chough releases, with more chicks from Wildwood Kent, Wildwood Devon, Paradise Park, and Camperdown Wildlife Park getting ready to join the growing flock.
Eventually, up to 50 birds will be released in east Kent as part of a plan to reconnect populations across southern England.
The birds’ return is thanks in part to years of behind-the-scenes work to restore Kent’s chalk grasslands – a haven for wildflowers, insects, and the dung-loving grubs that choughs feast on.
And for a bird with deep local ties – it is even on Canterbury’s coat of arms – it is a homecoming with historic flair.
Paul Hadaway from Kent Wildlife Trust added: “This project shows what’s possible when long-term habitat restoration meets ambitious species recovery.
“A thriving chough population in Kent not only revives a lost species – it also proves the value of restoring rare habitats like chalk grassland, which are vital for a huge range of wildlife.”
