Red kites are a common sight over the city, but before the 1960s, they hovered on the brink of extinction in the UK. There was only a remnant population of around 20 pairs in Wales.

In the middle ages they were common in towns where they were valuable scavengers, cleaning up rubbish. As sanitation improved, they lost their status and became persecuted as ‘vermin’. The population declined, made worse by habitat degradation, egg collection, and the effect of pesticides.

With the situation looking hopeless, an ambitious plan emerged: a ground-breaking reintroduction project. Between 1989 and 1994, around 100 birds from Spain and Sweden were released, including at sites near Oxford. With DDT banned and increased legal protections, their population began to climb. Now, there are an estimated 4,600 pairs throughout the UK, with strongholds in Wales and the Chilterns.

They are impressive birds, with a wingspan of 1.8m, red feathers, and a characteristic fork tail. Watching them soar and call against a summer-blue sky is one of the true pleasures of living in Oxford. We are so lucky to have them- be sure to look up now and then and you’re guaranteed to spot one. They are an enduring symbol of what we can achieve when we come together to protect our living world.