All of these birds were fitted with wing-tags before release (orange - left wing, black - right wing). Five of them are known to be dead, three having been poisoned (Aldicarb 2, Alphachloralose 2).

Three pairs from the 1999 releases laid eggs this Spring. Two pairs consisted of first-year birds. One of these pairs deserted through unestablished causes after 2 weeks (these being the 2 birds which subsequently succumbed to Aldicarb poisoning) whilst the eggs of the second pair
failed to hatch after the full incubation period. The third pair were more successful as they raised two young. This pair consisted of a first-year male and an older female, she being one of the rehabilitated birds. She had been rescued from illegal captivity and her precise age is unknown.

Nineteen birds, again from the Cilterns, have been released this year. They have orange tags on the left wing and pink on the right wing, as do the two home-produced young.

Determination of the sexes of the total of 39 birds taken from Chilterns nests has shown a substantial imbalance (25 males and 14 females). It remains to be seen whether the law of averages will work in our favour when more birds are released in 2001.