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A further 53 rare birds are to be released in Co Down and Co Wicklow this week as part of the phased reintroduction of the Red Kite in Ireland.

Last year around 30 Red Kites were introduced by Minister for the Environment John Gormley. While the majority of these survived, with some going on to form pairs, one of the birds was found shot dead shortly after it's release. It is hoped that some of these will go on to breed.

The bird with a distinctive forked tail was once common in Ireland and Britain but was driven to extinction (except for in remote parts of Wales) by shooting, trapping and poisoning.

Of the new batch of birds to be introduced to Ireland, 27 Red Kites have been brought to Co. Down where the RSPB are managing the reintroduction. The other twenty-six birds will be released by the Golden Eagle Trust in Co Wicklow.