2015 Golden Eagle Survey
The Golden Eagle Survey carried out across 2015 by the Scottish Raptor Study Groups, RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage has just been published and on the whole it's good news for Golden Eagles with a 15% increase on the 2003 national survey with 508 territorial pairs. There is a BUT though and as the maps and data within the report show there are still parts of Scotland with Eagles missing and a decline in territorial breeding pairs. Raptor Aid knows all to well about the dedicated work required for monitoring one of our countries most enigmatic raptors, spending hours walking and watching remote corners of the Highlands in all weathers (even 2 freezing nights sleeping in the back of a van). The views often make it all worth while but when birds fail to breed it can be down to a variety of reasons. The reasons can include disturbance, lack of prey, sudden changes in weather conditions and direct persecution. Sadly persecution is still proving to be a real problem for some suitable regions with good Eagle habitats.
Anyone who has visited the uplands of Scotland has to appreciate the sheer beauty of the landscapes and all that lives there. Hopefully the production of this study will help governments make important decisions for safe guarding the future of the Golden Eagle and many other animals within the Scottish uplands. We are proud to be a working member of the Highland Raptor Study Group, with all our Survey data being fed into a national database which makes up the core of work like this survey. We will be back out in the new year to start the new eagle season with the hope of a successful pair or two to monitor and observe.If you wish to read a copy of the survey feel free to contact us with your email address and we will forward it on.Another group we are proud to be part of and working with is the Gloucestershire Raptor Monitoring Group who have achieved a fantastic amount in the short time it has been around. They have two fantastic winter talks planned and you can find out more by following the link to their latest newsletter below. https://glosraptors.co.uk/2016/11/06/autumn-2016-newsletter/