Red kites fly free over Galloway

Red kites will fly again in Galloway

The third and final phase of a project to reintroduce the red kite to Scotland is being completed.

The raptors have already been released in north and central Scotland as part of a 10-year project to repopulate the species.

Now the famous bird of prey will fly free at a secret location in Galloway.

The £250,000 red kite project is a collaboration involving the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forest Enterprise.

Some of the birds are from Germany

The species has not been seen in the skies over Galloway for more than 150 years.

But that will change when 19 birds are released at a secret location on Thursday afternoon.

Several of the birds were recently recovered by police from thieves in Germany.

It will be their first taste of freedom since they were placed in quarantine on arrival in Scotland last month.

Significant event

German birds were also part of earlier releases in north and central Scotland and have since gone on to breed successfully.

A spokesman for the RSPB said the release was the most significant bird event in Galloway for decades.

He said the secrecy surrounding the operation was to give the birds every chance to acclimatise.

But he is not confident that their arrival will remain a secret for long once bird watchers in the area begin to report sightings.