LISTEN: Golden eagle population continues to soar

Results from the fourth national golden eagle survey show that the population of these birds of prey has increased to 508 pairs in Scotland. It marks a rise of 15% since the previous survey in 2003, when 442 pairs were recorded.

It follows reports earlier this year that England’s only resident golden eagle is feared to have died having not returned to nest in Cumbria.

The national survey was carried out during the first six months of 2015, co-funded by the RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), with fieldwork was carried out by expert licensed volunteers from the Scottish Raptor Study Group and professional surveyors from the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland, said: “The sight of a golden eagle soaring in the sky above is an awe-inspiring part of our natural heritage, and this increase in numbers of golden eagle pairs is great news"

"Across many parts of Scotland there’s been a very welcome turnaround in how people respect these magnificent birds, part of a more enlightened public attitude towards birds of prey"

"Increased monitoring and satellite tagging of eagles, as well as stronger sanctions against wildlife crime may be serving as effective deterrents against illegal activity, therefore helping their population to increase. However, the continued absence of golden eagles in some areas of eastern Scotland remains a real cause for concern and suggests that much more work needs to be done.”

The results are significant because the eagle population, having surpassed 500 pairs, now meets the targets identified to define it as having ‘favourable conservation status’ in the UK. The population increase also highlights the continuing steady recovery in Scotland from very low numbers in the mid-19th century. The species was also blighted in the 1960s due to pesticides.

Golden eagles tend to live in remote areas, with the northern Highlands and the central spine of the country, between the Great Glen and Stirlingshire, seeing the greatest increase in eagle numbers between 2003 and 2015. Recovery also continues in much of the west Highlands and islands with modest increases noted there.

Part of the Highlands west of Inverness has remained stable between 2003 and 2015, after showing a significant drop in occupied territories between the 1982 and 1992 surveys. The reasons for the lack of recovery in this area aren’t clear, but likely involve a number of factors. Persecution, recreation and forestry have all been identified as potential factors affecting eagles in this area.

Golden eagles also continue to be absent in many parts of the eastern Highlands. Less than one third of the traditional ‘home ranges’ in this area were occupied by a pair of eagles and no eagles were recorded at all in over 30% of them, despite the fact that these should be very productive landscapes for these birds. Four eagles fitted with satellite tags have been found illegally killed in the central and eastern Highlands (in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013).

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