Badenoch does its bit for pioneering golden eagle project

Rural estates have been praised for their vital contribution towards restoring a thriving golden eagle population in the south of Scotland.

In total, 20 eagle chicks have been translocated for the project since 2018 – with 18 of those coming from estates owned privately.

Pitmain & Glenbanchor Estate near Kingussie and Rottal Estate near Kirriemuir are among the private estates who have this year worked with the award-winning South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project to translocate eagle chicks from their land to help establish a thriving eagle population in the south.

Graham Mabon, head gamekeeper at Pitmain & Glenbanchor said: “We’re delighted our resident Glenbanchor eagles have managed to again raise a brood of two young eaglets.

"Through the translocation of one of the eaglet chicks, the estate has supported the expansion of these majestic birds into their southern range. Our management of the estate, particularly for grouse shooting, allows us to create a habitat where a rich array of bird species and other wildlife can thrive. The biodiversity on our estate is fantastic and we’re delighted that golden eagles are present and flourishing.”

Other estates to have participated in the project since 2018 include Glenmazeran Estate in Inverness-shire, Jahama Highland Estates near Fort William and Dalnacardoch Estate near Pitlochry.

Jonathan Hart OBE, liaison Manager for Jahama Highland Estates (part of the GFG Alliance and Alvance British Aluminum), said: “Jahama Highland Estates are delighted to have been involved with the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project for the past five years. Since our early positive engagement with the project, we have translocated four golden eagle chicks from our landholdings across the wider Lochaber and Badenoch area.

“To be able to play a key role in the successful re-introduction of this iconic species back into the Scottish Borders and the North of England is an important biodiversity enhancement milestone for our business and for the communities who benefit from seeing and engaging with this magnificent bird of prey.

"We continue to work with Scottish Land & Estates and the South of Scotland Golden Eagle educational outreach projects to ensure future generations value the importance of a successful breeding population of golden eagles remain in place across and within the UK countryside.”

The estates have diverse interests including management for farming, grouse shooting and country sports, forestry and energy but all of them undertake vital conservation work which has played a huge role in golden eagles and a host of other species choosing to nest on their land.

A number of these estates are also either Wildlife Estates Scotland accredited or currently going through accreditation process. Wildlife Estates is a European wide initiative to promote the best habitat and wildlife management practices.

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Scotland’s rural estates have been pivotal in supporting the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project from inception through to the release of birds, with 90% of the chicks translocated originating from estates managed privately. As demonstrated by these latest translocations from Rottal and Pitmain & Glenbanchor, estates are both practically and financially helping Scotland’s nature and we hope even more estates will get involved in the project in future.”

Dr Cat Barlow, project manager for South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, said: “In just a few short years, thanks to the vital support we have received from estates across Scotland, we have more than tripled the local population of golden eagles in the south of Scotland to 39 - the highest number recorded for three centuries.

"This has been made possible through the great care estates and raptor workers have taken to help us source healthy eagle chicks and provide them with welcoming new habitats. It is fantastic to see these majestic birds soar in southern skies once again.”

Project partners the Southern Uplands Partnership, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, Scottish Forestry and NatureScot worked on the project together for more than 11 years before releasing the first eagle chicks in 2018.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, project partners and the Scottish Government, the initiative is a key project under ‘Scotland’s Biodiversity. A Route Map to 2020’, supporting the Government’s ‘2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity’.

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