Members of the Lothian & Borders Raptor Study Group (L&BRSG) have initiated a new project for 2009 to help understand the dispersal and survival of golden eagles in the Scottish Borders. With expertise from Natural Research and in full partnership with the landowner, a satellite tag will be attached to a chick in 2009 at the one remaining active nest in the region.
Golden Eagle chick. © Ewan Weston
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According to the most recent scientific research (Whitfield et al. [2008] A Conservation Framework for Golden Eagles: Implications for their Conservation and Management in Scotland: click here for a copy), the Scottish Borders could hold 13 golden eagle territories. Currently, there is only one occupied territory in the Borders, but eagles have bred there for at least the last 40 years, and over the last 20 years it has been a very productive site. However, despite the regular production of golden eagle chicks, and careful protection by the landowner, young birds are rarely observed in the region and vacant territories remain unoccupied. Persecution is suspected to be the main limiting factor for population growth, at both a regional and national scale.
In August 2007, this eagle pair hit the headlines when the adult female was found poisoned during the breeding season. Her mate survived, and with the landowner’s help, supplementary food was provided for the recently-fledged chick.
In 2008, a new female joined the male and they produced a fledgling. The current whereabouts of both the 2007 and 2008 chicks are unknown.
The satellite tag attached to the 2009 chick will provide the first data on where young golden eagles in the Borders disperse, and, if this bird survives, where it might settle to breed.
If you would like more information about this project, please contact: ruth.tingay@natural-research.org
Natural Research is tracking golden eagles in other areas of Scotland to learn about their dispersal. Click here for further information
YOU CAN HELP THIS PROJECT!
It costs approx £7,000 to fit a transmitter and track an eagle for 3 years. This includes buying the satellite tag, paying for the satellite ‘time’, and staff costs associated with managing, analyzing and mapping the data. We are a Scottish-based charity and rely upon donations to continue our work.
To date, the tracking in the Borders has been supported by the generous financial help of the following: the landowner (who has to remain anonymous for site security), L&BRSG, Roy & Janette Bell, Heinz Giegerich, Margaret Laing, Caroline Heycock, Patrick Honeybone, Alice Turk, Sarah Anderson, Tony Lightley, Ruth Tingay, Malcolm Henderson, Peter Gascoigne, Strang Steel Charitable Trust, Philliphaugh Estate, Andrew Sandeman, Tom Dougal, Mark Holling, Damion Willcock, Joris Driessen, Wendy Bain, Barony Country Foods Ltd, Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Ornithologists' Club Endowment Fund, Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club, "G Division (Scottish Borders) Lothian & Borders Police and another donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Tracking of golden eagles by Natural Research elsewhere in Scotland has been part funded by SNH.
If you would like to find out more about tracking juvenile golden eagles please view our sponsorship pack here. This pack was developed for commercial sponsors, but is equally applicable to anyone who wishes to support the project.
If you would like to make a donation to this or any of the other initiatives by Natural Research, please click here to visit our donations page.
Natural Research Ltd is a charity registered in Scotland (SC030363)
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