10 November 2016
Numbers of golden eagles in Scotland are close to
"historic" levels, with more than 500 pairs, a survey of the birds
has found.
RSPB Scotland said there had been a 15% rise since 2003, when
the last survey took place, from 442 to 508 pairs.
The research was carried out by experts from the wildlife
charity and the Scottish Raptor Study Group.
Scotland is now thought to be home to the UK's entire
population of golden eagles.
England's only resident golden eagle, which occupied a site
near Haweswater in the Lake District, has not been seen for more than a year
and is feared
dead.
The RSPB said the six-month survey - which the charity
co-funded with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) - showed the raptor could now be
defined as having a "favourable conservation status".
'Awe-inspiring'
Numbers of golden eagles in Scotland reached very low numbers
in the mid-19th Century, but have been steadily recovering since then.
Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB
Scotland, said the birds were an "awe-inspiring part of our natural
heritage" and welcomed the news from the survey.
"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," he said.
"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."
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