Volunteers are hopeful that an injured red kite chick will survive in the wild near Gibside after being rescued from a fallen nest.
After being taken to a vet, it was discovered that the rescued chick’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The chick was then nursed back to health before being tagged and known as F6.
He was then released back into the wild at Gibside.
June Atkinson, from Friends of Red Kites, has since returned to Gibside to see if she can spot the chick to check on its progress.
Viewing the birds from a distance has made it difficult for June to establish whether she has seen the rescued chick itself, but she believes it is doing well.
She said: "We hope that the other red kites in the vicinity will come and they will accept the released kite, and it will flourish."
Between 2004 and 2006, 94 red kites were rehabilitated and released back into countryside around Gibside.
Since then the birds have successfully bred each year.
The best places to spot red kites are from the orangery at Gibside and at Thornley Woods.
