Red Kite Talk & Walk, 21.08.25

Red kite in flight (c) Wilson Gardiner As part of Heritage Week 2025 Red Kite Team Members from the NI Raptor Study Group and the Golden Eagle Trust will meet people in the northern home of the red kite near Castlewellan - Co. Down. We will talk to people about the species, the reintroduction and … Continue reading Red Kite Talk & Walk, 21.08.25 →

Red Kite confirmed poisoned outside Newry

Police have confirmed that a Red Kite found in December on the Tullymore Road, close to the A1 between Newry and Banbridge, was poisoned. The bird of prey, only 8-months old, was part of a state of the art tracking project known as ‘Hawk-Eyes’. The movements of the bird were recorded using GPS-satellite technology and … Continue reading Red Kite confirmed poisoned outside Newry →

Hawk Eyes Project Secures Major Grant to Protect Ireland’s Raptors

The Hawk Eyes project has received funding from The Heritage Council to track red kites and buzzards in Ireland using GPS satellite technology. This initiative will enhance conservation efforts by monitoring these birds' movements, habitat use, and threats while promoting public engagement and education on raptors in key regions.

Young kites on the move in May!

A number of the juvenile GPS-tracked red kites have made some really impressive movements in so far in May (2025). Here are some of the movements of wandering juveniles in the past week (15/5/25 - 21/5/25). (Birds are also uniquely marked with coloured wing-tags with an alphanumeric code. The colour of the wing-tag on the … Continue reading Young kites on the move in May! →

Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group Petition to Ban Possession of Dangerous Pesticides supported by 50,000 people!

The NIRSG held a Raptor Conference last weekend which provided incredible insights into a range of topics locally and globally. Many of the talks raised a consistent theme of targeted persecution of birds of prey. Not least among these was the on-going issue in Northern Ireland of the Possession of Dangerous pesticides. The NIRSG highlighted … Continue reading Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group Petition to Ban Possession of Dangerous Pesticides supported by 50,000 people! →

Green 9H goes exploring

Hawk-Eyes Red Kite Green 9H fledged from a huge Monterey Pine tree at a nest site in Co. Down in late July 2024. It had one sibling (Green 9J), which wasn't fitted with a satellite transmitter. In mid-August Green 9H started exploring into Co. Armagh and south Co. Antrim and then in late August he … Continue reading Green 9H goes exploring →

The 2024 Red Kite cohort start exploring

Thanks to additional funding received from the Environment Fund from Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) the Hawk-Eyes project continued to deploy satellite tags on some of our most persecuted species in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in 2024. Focus this year has been on Red Kites in particular. Juvenile Red Kite 'Green H6' … Continue reading The 2024 Red Kite cohort start exploring →

White-Tailed Eagles: First breeding pair confirmed in Northern Ireland in over 150 years.

White-tailed Eagles have successfully bred in Northern Ireland for the first time in over 150 years, with a pair fledging a chick in Co. Fermanagh. Reintroduced to the Republic of Ireland from Norway, their return to Northern Ireland highlights the importance of suitable habitats for raptors in the region.

Police appeal for information as Rare ‘White’ Kite shot in Co. Down

Police are appealing for information after the shooting of a protected Red Kite outside Mayobridge, Co. Down, in April 2024.

Eyes to the Skies

As we enter the breeding season we ask that you keep a special watch out for birds of prey showing breeding behaviour. Signs to look out for, that may mean birds are nesting nearby, are calling, carrying sticks, mobbing crows and other raptors, displaying (loop-the-loop and diving from great height) and carrying food. You can … Continue reading Eyes to the Skies →