Six chough chicks have fledged in Kent, bringing the county's population to an estimated 35 birds, according to a report by Eric Brown. The chicks hatched this year, following the first successful hatching in 2023, as part of a reintroduction programme that began in Dover in 2023 after a 200-year absence from the county.
Reintroduction and recovery
The chough, a black bird with scarlet legs and a curved bill, disappeared from England in 1973 and was once thought doomed as a British species. Historically, choughs were wrongly blamed for eating crops, killing livestock, and even setting fire to houses by stealing lighted candles. In reality, they fed on harmful insects and blowfly pupa on carcasses, promoting growth and cleaning up carrion.
In 1994, the author of the report travelled to Wales, the only reliable place in the UK to see choughs at the time, and finally observed a pair at Llangranog. Since then, the species has made a strong recovery, returning to Cornwall, where it appears on the county coat of arms, and now establishing a new population in Kent.
Kent population and expansion
The Kent population is now thought to number 35, with birds spreading from their release hub opposite Dover Castle along the coast. Sightings have been reported near Folkestone and Margate, indicating natural expansion. Eight more choughs are due for release in Kent as part of a joint scheme involving Kent Wildlife Trust, Paradise Park Cornwall, and Wildwood Trust.
Government-backed research will use DNA analysis to examine the diet of Kent choughs, supporting habitat management. Nationwide, the chough is believed to number more than 300 pairs, a notable recovery from the brink of extinction in England.
Conservation success
The successful fledging of six chicks this year marks a significant milestone for the reintroduction effort. The birds are thriving in their new habitat, and the continued releases and research are expected to further support the population's growth. The report concludes with congratulations to all involved in the scheme.
