Jo Wimpenny on the Red Kite

The zoologist and writer Jo Wimpenny shares a story of a close encounter with a red kite in the Chiltern Hills, which swooped in to steal some food. This has become a more common experience in the area with the bird's population having grown by over 1,000% since the 1990s. Jo points out that although the return of a species that lives so well alongside humans won't always be welcomed, it's helpful to remember our shared past, like when hundreds of years ago red kites were valued for clearing streets of carrion and waste.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

This programme features audio recorded by Simon Elliott from Xeno-Canto (Red Kite - XC1070598).