Pants found in red kite nest

12 August 2008 05:05pm

An England football flag, a pair of underpants, two white socks and a soft toy are among the unusual objects recovered from the nests of red kites.

The birds of prey are known for their tendency to steal items of clothing from washing lines to make their nests.

Their odd haul also includes a glove, a sponge ball and the greying underwear, the RSPB revealed.

The knick-knacks were found in nests across the north east of England where the birds were reintroduced into Gateshead's Derwent Valley four years ago.

Bosses from the Northern Kites Project revealed the nests' contents as they announced that 22 baby red kites have been successfully reared this year - twice as many as last year.

Two of the older kites, which were the first pair to breed in Gateshead since 1834, also became grandparents at the age of four.

Northern Kites project manager Keith Bowey said: "We have had another huge growth in the known breeding population of kites in the north east of England.

"There has been a 75% increase in successful pairs since last year, a 100% increase in the young reared by these pairs, and a 100% increase in birds nesting and laying eggs."

The Northern Kites project is managed by the RSPB and English Nature, working in partnership with Gateshead Council, Northumbrian Water, the National Trust and the Forestry Commission, with additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Trust.

Red Kites - a large bird of prey with a wingspan of almost two metres - became extinct in the north of England during the early 1800s.

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