Overview

• The chick fledged at a Dover Castle nest and appears to be thriving under natural conditions.
• The reintroduction initiative launched in 2022 by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Paradise Park aims to establish up to 50 red-billed choughs in southeast England over five years.
• Restoration of chalk grassland, supported by conservation grazing, has enriched the habitat with insects and larvae crucial for chough breeding and foraging.
• Last year’s reintroduction attempt ended when a chick vanished at the fledging stage during severe weather, highlighting the programme’s challenges before this milestone.
• The red-billed chough carries deep cultural significance for Kent, featuring on Canterbury’s coat of arms and in local legends of Thomas Becket.