A flock of rare birds not seen in the Kentish skies for 200 years have been released into the wild as part of a ground-breaking project.

Some of the red-billed chough, a type of crow, were reared near Canterbury before being set loose in the largest release of the species to date.

Legend says their red beaks and feet symbolise landing on the blood of murdered city archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.

This is the second successful season of chough releases, with the 12 released this summer taking their total number now soaring over the south east to 19.

Kent Wildlife Trust, Wildwood Trust and Paradise Park in Cornwall, have worked together over the past five years to return the birds to the county’s skyline.

A nest was discovered at Dover Castle in May, less than a year after the release of the first cohort.

Although the chick fledged successfully it went missing days later during strong winds.

The conservation charities have brought together some of the leading experts in chough breeding and reintroduction to bring back the long-lost species.

Of the 12 birds released this year, six females were creche-reared at Wildwood Trust, near Canterbury, while six males were reared at Paradise Park in Cornwall.

They joined the seven choughs released in July 2023 to fly above the White Cliffs of Dover.

Conservation organisations have worked on this project over the past four decades.

The birds were initially kept in aviaries in Dover in 2021.

Kent Wildlife Trust has worked alongside groups such as English Heritage, the National Trust and White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, to restore chalk grassland habitat and reintroduce conservation grazing management across East Kent.

Paul Hadaway, director of conservation for Kent Wildlife Trust, said: “The reintroduction project in Dover demonstrates that, even with the perilous state of nature and wildlife in this country it is still possible to restore nature and return missing species.

“We have laid the foundations for a successful release program that will see this flagship bird re-established in a county with which it has a long cultural association.

“Creating and connecting habitats at scale has been the starting point for the red-billed chough's journey back. Chalk grassland is an incredibly rare habitat and is considered the UK's equivalent of the rainforest.

“Grazed chalk grassland can contain as many as 40 species per square metre and supports hundreds of species of invertebrates. It is an incredibly important habitat.

“In Dover, Kent Wildlife Trust has been working with landowners and partner organisations for over forty years to restore chalk grassland.

“Dover sits at the end of a network of several chalk valleys, each flanked by chalk downland habitats that have been progressively restored.“

Laura Gardner, director of conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: “The arrival of the chick was such a momentous milestone for the project and an unexpected joy that came much sooner than we’d anticipated.

“While we were disappointed by the disappearance of the chick we were heartened by the fact that its very existence showed that creating an established breeding population of chough in the wild in Kent for the first time in generations was very much within our reach.

“Little more than two years ago there was no chance of seeing a chough in the south east’s skyline, now there are 19 flying free over Dover. It’s a huge achievement and credit goes to all the team for making it happen.”

Dave Hedges from English Heritage said staff last October had their first wild chough sighting when a pair paid a flying visit to Dover Castle.

He said: “Heritage is as much about wildlife and nature as it is about bricks and buildings. And after a gap of more than 200 years, we are delighted to see the chough once more flying over Dover Castle.

“Becket’s murder, it is claimed, was called for by Henry II. As Henry built the Great Tower at Dover Castle, there is some poetic justice in the chough returning to the castle.”

The red-billed chough is a rare member of the crow family with glossy black plumage, red legs and a distinctive bright red beak.

The chough was once native to Kent but became extinct due to changing farming practices and persecution.

Its long-standing association with Kent is exemplified by its appearance on the coat of arms of Canterbury.