The story of Tiggywinkles' first encounters with red kites - Les Stocker

The most magnificent bird of prey in Britains skies is the Lord of the Sky, the Red Kite. A success story of re-introduction. Many people in Britain have now stood and stared in awe at kites imperiously quartering field and road for their food.In addition to the resident Welsh population they can now be watched in the Midlands, the North of England, Scotland and of course in their greatest success, the Chiltern Hills near to London.They thrived, the populations grew and very soon the first sick or injured red kites started to be found helpless on the ground. Luckily close to the Chilterns is the foremost wildlife hospital Tiggywinkles. That was where they were taken. Nobody anywhere had much experience of casualty Red Kites. Their plight fell on the experience of the Tiggywinkles staff to pull them through. This they did totally successfully in spite of all the idiosyncrasies of this enigmatic bird.This was just as well for the original trickle became a flood of massive birds pitiful in their helplessness.Each patient was a challenge but Tiggywinkles staff are amazing at compassion, treatment and innovation. Almost from day one each pathetic bedraggled bundle of feather was healing and soon becoming a magnificent bird of prey whose all-seeing eyes were soon demanding to be released.Of course, there have been sad and even horrific moments. The occasional kite had been deliberately poisoned or shot.This book shares the privilege of the author in meeting many of these wonderful birds. Every moment has been challenging: the rescues, the handling, finding out what was wrong, treating the casualties and seeing them prosper and soar away into their free sky.All these encounters have gelled into a brand new Tiggywinkles Red Kite Centre at Haddenham where visitors can experience getting close to some of Tiggywinkles resident disabled kites. Experiencing for themselves the magic that Encounters with Red Kites has given to the author.