Chris Rollie

Chris was born in Ayrshire and grew up overlooking Glenafton, where he developed a love of nature and especially birds from an early age.  Educated at Stirling University and Jordanhill College (Glasgow), Chris was a biology teacher for nearly ten years, while volunteering as a casework officer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust and becoming an active member of the developing raptor study group movement in Scotland in the 1980s.  In 1991 he moved with his young family to Galloway to become the RSPB's first Conservation Officer in the region, becoming Area Manger in 2000 and reintroducing red kites after an absence of 140 years.  After 28 years with the Society, latterly being their avian lead across south and west Scotland, Chris took early retirement at the end of 2018 to spend more time outdoors surveying, guiding and travelling.  He chairs Dumfries & Galloway Raptor Study Group and the UK Ring Ouzel Study group and remains a volunteer with RSPB on hen harriers, golden eagles and ring ouzels.  He has travelled extensively in Europe and USA, and undertaken sabbaticals in Morocco and Syria.  An experienced lecturer, he loves meeting people who share his passion for wildlife and landscapes.  His other interests include history, architecture and poetry.