Artwork to commemorate red kites killed in Ross-shire
AN RSPB volunteer has created a special artwork to commemorate the 22 birds of prey which were killed in a major poisoning incident in Ross-shire.
Sixteen red kites and six buzzards were found dead near Conon Bridge on the Black Isle earlier this year.
Janice Duke, an artist who also volunteers at the RSPB’s Forsinard Flows nature reserve in Sutherland, produced the drawing to help the conservation charity’s protection work.
Janice explained: "Red Kites are beautiful and distinctive birds of prey, ones I particularly enjoy watching in action. There’s something about the way they move, so elegant and powerful. It moves me. As the death toll rose in Ross-shire earlier this year in what would amount to a particularly disturbing incidence of persecution, I was appalled. Each individual killed was, to me, as innocent as a child. A wild little brother or sister lost to us all."
Janice has had 20 A3 limited edition archive quality prints produced which she hopes to sell for £85 per copy.
She said: "I will donate all the profits from its sale to the RSPB, whose investigation and species protection work may help prevent future incidents and may help bring any who were involved in this or other wildlife persecution to justice, and whose education work teaches current and future generations to view our wildlife with due respect and care.
• Anyone interested in purchasing a print can contact Janice by email on Janice.duke@hotmail.co.uk or phone the RSPB on (01463) 715000."
In other red kite news, the RSPB has revealed that despite the loss of kites in Ross-shire, the raptors have expanded their range into Sutherland.
Red kite officer Brian Etheridge said they found the first red kite nests in Sutherland last year and this year there are three breeding pairs located between Dornoch and Bonar Bridge.
"This is really good news and shows that the birds are capable of doing very ewell in the north of Scotland if they are not persecuted," he said.
Brian is keen to hear reports of other red kites breeding in Sutherland. He can be contacted by email: brian.etheridge@rspb.org.uk or call the office on (01463) 715000.
