Unlikely hero saves bird of prey

Published on Tuesday 18 August 2009 22:03

MORE than a century ago, Victorian gamekeepers were blamed for persecuting the red kite to the brink of extinction in Scotland.

But yesterday, a gamekeeper in the Highlands emerged as the unlikely hero who saved a young red kite from almost certain death on a shooting estate on the Black Isle.

Bob Colyer, from the Craigiehowe Mains estate, was praised by RSPB Scotland after he rushed to the rescue when the young bird of prey crash-landed into pheasant rearing pens on the south side of Munlochy Bay.

The bird, known as "H" by conservationists, became entangled in the pens and could have died had his plight not been spotted by Mr Colyer.

H, which fledged in a nest on the Black Isle in July, was one of ten red kites recently fitted with satellite tags by RSPB Scotland as part of a new project aimed at linking the magnificent birds of prey with local communities and schools in Scotland.

He had been adopted by the pupils at Farr Primary School at Bettyhill, in Sutherland, and was being tracked online at www.eyestotheskies.org.uk.

Mr Colyer said: "The kite was looking very sorry for itself when I found it and didn't seem grateful to be rescued. However I'm delighted to have been able to help and even more pleased to hear that it has been able to take to the air once more."

Claire Buchanan, the RSPB's red kite project officer, said H should be none the worse for his experience.