RARE bird of prey the red kite has successfully bred in Wharfedale.

Since the introduction of ten pairs of the bird, pictured, at the Harewood Estate last year, one pair has nested and raised chicks and another two have tried to nest.

And it has been hailed an historic event marking the start of a new era for red kites in the North.

But project organisers have warned there is still a danger to the birds from both illegal poisoning and from

picking up strong pesticides.

And they have urged landowners and farmers to be vigilant.

David Hirst, of the RSPB North of England branch, said the spread of the red kite into Wharfedale had not been without its problems.

"This year three red kites have been illegally poisoned in Yorkshire and across the country nine red kites, in six incidents, have been found poisoned."

He said kites were put at risk when they scavenged on rats which had been poisoned with highly toxic rodenticides.

"We would urge landowners in areas now home to red kites to use traditional rodenticides which are much less toxic than second generation poisons and to dispose of poisoned rats before they can become a problem to foraging kites."

And Ian Carter of English Nature, added: "The results of the breeding survey are encouraging, but we remain concerned about the threats posed by illegal poisoning and the secondary poisoning by rodenticides. These problems must be tackled effectively if the red kite is to continue to increase and spread."

Doug Simpson, Yorkshire Red Kite Project officer, said: "Until the launch of the Yorkshire Project last year, these superb birds have been absent from the country since the late 1800s.

"This year we were delighted to be able to announce that a pair of red kites had once again nested successfully in Yorkshire, raising two chicks, and that two other pairs had made an attempt to nest.

"This historic event marks the start of a new era in the fortunes of red kites in Northern England and over the coming years the Yorkshire birds will be adding to the success story."

The Yorkshire Red Kite Project is a partnership between English Nature and the RSPB with support from Yorkshire Water and the Harewood Estate.

In 1989 there were only 54 breeding pairs of red kites left in Wales - and no pairs in England and Scotland for the last 100 years.