In 2003 19 territorial pairs were located, of which 18 laid eggs and 14 fledged 34 young. The breeding performance of 1.9 young per pair laying eggs was the highest since the start of the central Scotland release programme. Other major milestones included 1 brood of 4 young, a first for this site and only the fourth ever brood of four young recorded in Scotland.
In addition there was a significant range expansion with 5 pairs breeding in Perthshire (1 pair in 2002), which fledged an outstanding 15 young or mean of 3 young per pair! One of these breeding pairs in Perthshire was about 40 miles from the original release location in Stirling-shire.
Amongst our breeding pairs there are four adults of north Scotland origin and interchange between the two populations is increasing. In the winter of 2003/4 over 10 individual birds from north Scotland were identified in central Scotland from wing tag readings.
RSPB staff are working with a local farmer who is establishing a red kite feeding station at Doune, near Stirling and this is due to open on 7 November (for further details www.argatyredkites.co.uk). At present about 40 red kites are using the site and excellent views of red kites can be obtained.
Dumffries & Galloway
By Kevin Duffy
(RSPB's Dumfries & Galloway Red Kite Project Officer)
Another 33 kites (20 Scottish and 13 Chilterns) were released in July and August. 28 birds remained in the area to date, with four having been poisoned and one having drifted. One bird was recovered in Ayrshire by a farmer, while the other three died in one incident at the edge of the core area. Seven Galloway birds have been found poisoned in 2003.
Three birds were also poisoned in one incident in March bringing the total of Galloway kites poisoned this year to seven. Sadly, no prosecutions have been made in relation to these incidents. Co-operation between the project and local WLOs has been excellent.
Four pairs laid eggs in 2003 with one of these rearing a single chick, the projectÕs first. This was still alive in late October, as were its parents, a German male and a north Scotland female. Two North Scotland birds have arrived in the area in October, as well as an un-tagged bird. A young pair of 2002 birds has recently been established. There are now 40 – 50 individuals in the area.
The Galloway Kite Trail was launched on 6th October. This initiative aims to promote the population of red kites, recently re-introduced to the area, as a source of nature-based tourism to benefit local communities around Loch Ken. In so doing, the trail will also help to strengthen the `ownership' of the kites by the local communities and tourist operators in a way which encourages them to take a vested interest in the success of the reintroduction project and of the birds in general. In turn, we hope that this will help to foster the realisation that wildlife and the environment are important and valuable resources and should be cared for accordingly.
The trail has a logo and is sign-posted, making use of existing facilities around the loch such as footpaths, viewpoints, information points, release cages and nature reserves (especially RSPB Ken/Dee Marshes), all of which are already good places to see kites and other wildlife. A feeding station with a hide has been established on a farm near Laurieston.
