Red Kites were hunted and persecuted to the brink of extinction, and by the early 20th century there were only a few breeding pairs remaining in Wales alone. Conservation efforts started in earnest in the 1970s. Birds were reintroduced to the Chilterns in 1990/91. There are now 6000 breeding pairs in the UK. In my part of East Anglia they are supposed to be winter visitors only. They are, in fact here all year round and the local roosting group is at least 22 in number. They remain very shy of humans but will occasionally circle overhead to check you out. This is an ongoing project.