A pair of red kites which became well known to birdwatchers and tourists have been found dead near Stocksfield, Northumberland. The bird carcasses have now been sent to the London Institute of Zoology for forensic analysis to determine how they died.
Numerous birdwatchers travelled to the kites’ nesting site near Whittonstall, Northumberland, last year, where they were clearly visible at long-range for several months. Visitors used the vantage point provided by the Highland Cattle Centre on the opposite side of a small valley to view the isolated nest high in trees.
This suspected case of persecution comes only a few months after 2 red kites were found dead illegally poisoned near Hexham, Northumberland.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Sad times.
But it’s not all bad news – I know this isn’t Scotland, but 9 white-tailed sea eagles were released into the wild this week in Killarney, Ireland. – http://www.independent.ie/national-news/nine-whitetailed-eagles-released-to-boost-numbers-2284715.html
And that’s a good thing.
Im surprised that this has been made public before a cause of death was established – theres more than enough confirmed poisonings out there to be annoyed about. Wont help an investigation to tell a poisoner that his crime has been discovered…and of course birds do die naturally…?