THE prospects of an endangered bird of prey reclaiming its traditional hunting ground have brightened dramatically with news of a successful breeding season.

Wildlife experts have revealed that as many as six pairs of red kites have nested in Yorkshire this year, raising at least eight chicks, following their reintroduction to the North of England two years ago.

Last year, one pair raised two chicks, the first time that kites had successfully bred in the county for at least 100 years.

But news that the birds have nested in such large numbers so quickly has taken groups behind the Red Kite Restoration Project by surprise, and considerably strengthened their prospects for overall success.

Doug Simpson, red kite project officer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), said: "These beautiful birds of prey have obviously settled well in the county.

"I hope their breeding success this year means they are now firmly established back in Yorkshire. If the population continues to grow, red kites should start to be seen more widely across the county."

The birds had originally been introduced at the Harewood estate, near Harrogate, but an RSPB spokesman said two of the pairs had nested elsewhere, also a sign of success.

A total of 42 red kites have been introduced to Yorkshire so far, as part of a national project to restore the birds to England and Scotland, although four have since died after eating poisoned bait.

The birds had been widespread in the North of England but were wiped out by human persecution in the late 19th Century.

But plans for a further release of birds this year has been postponed by the foot-and-mouth crisis, which has also hampered efforts to monitor birds already introduced to Yorkshire.

Tim Page, of English Nature, another partner in the project, said: "This is wonderful news in what has been a very difficult year.

"The kites obviously like it here in Yorkshire."

Christopher Ussher, of Harewood Estate, said: "It is encouraging to note that, despite there being no release of birds this year and a reduced monitoring programme, the birds seem to be managing very well indeed and producing young."