Iconic bird species returns to Dover after 200-year absence

An iconic bird species has returned home to Dover as part of a kickstart to their reintroduction back into the wild in Kent.

A new aviary has been installed at Dover Castle for the Red-billed Chough.

The rare species was first found over the white cliffs around 200 years ago.

The Wildwood Trust has partnered up with Kent Wildlife Trust and English Heritage to install the new birds' new home at the castle.

The aviary was opened to the public on Saturday (7 August) where visitors can come and see the birds.

Red-billed Choughs are part of the crow family. However, its bright red bill and legs sets it apart from all other corvids. Their bill is long and curved, adding insight to the feeding strategies of these birds.

They are a non-migratory bird found throughout southern Europe and in mountainous areas in Central Asia, India and China.

Although the species has a broad distribution, populations are in decline. According to the Wildwood Trust, there are fewer than 450 pairs remaining in the UK in small and isolated populations.

Described as a 'groundbreaking conservation project', the aim is to release the at-risk birds into the wild in Kent next year.