RSPB Northern Ireland is today celebrating, as four chough chicks took their first flight over Rathlin Island at the weekend. Until last year, no baby chough had hatched on the island since 1989.
In June 2007, three chicks successfully hatched.
Speaking today, Liam McFaul RSPB Warden at Rathlin said:
“This is absolutely fantastic news. I had the privilege of sitting on the cliff edge on Sunday afternoon and watched the whole family of six playing in the breeze and I am pleased to report that all young look healthy and strong.
“This is another important milestone for the chough on Rathlin, and for this species across Northern Ireland. However, we have still a considerable way to go before we can talk about the successful recovery of the chough in Northern Ireland.
“RSPB NI has been working with DARD, EHS and local landowners to ensure that the habitat has been suitable for the birds. Chough require a short sward grass on the cliff and adjacent fields to feed on small insects and we are delighted that our persistence has paid off.
“We will be tracking the Rathlin chough family over the next number of weeks in order to better understand their behaviour and social structures. After the chicks were born in May, they were fitted with colour rings to track and identify each individual bird. We are asking people to report any sightings of the birds to the RSPB so that we can build up a picture of their movement patterns, particularly during the winter months when they will leave Rathlin. We would particularly like people along the north coast of Northern Ireland to keep their eyes peeled for the chough.”