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Red kites were once common scavengers around our cities, feeding on scraps and carrion. They were, however, persecuted in the 19C, wrongly thought to take lambs and game. By 1880 only a dozen or so remained in the UK, in valleys in mid-Wales. In 1989 a reintroduction programme was launched and 104 red kites were released in Galloway between 2001 and 2005. They are now well established and have bred since 2003 with increasing success, with 18 young fledging in 2003 to 104 in 2011, and from 4 to 58 nesting pairs over the same period. There are now about 320 in the area. They are encouraged by a feeding station near Laurieston at Bellymack Hill Farm, and large numbers can be seen and heard calling every day as they gather in the trees and wheel about making their whistling calls, waiting for the daily feed at 2pm [road kill and chicken]. For more information see the Galloway Kite Trail and RSPB links – Link and Link


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