Golden Eagle Population Soars Significantly

The population of the Scotland's national bird, the golden eagle, has soared to historic levels. Currently, there are now over 500 breeding pairs found living in the Scottish Highlands, according to the survey.

Independent reports that the study was conducted by RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Raptor Study Group in 2015. The researchers discovered that there is a 15 percent increase in the eagle population since 2003. That is about 442 to 508 pairs of the eagle.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, the head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said that the sight of the golden eagle soaring in the sky above is an awe-inspiring part of their natural heritage and this increase in numbers of golden eagle pairs is great news. He further said that the across many parts of Scotland, there has been a very welcome turnaround in how people respect these magnificent birds, part of a more enlightened public attitude in the birds of prey.

On the other hand, the eagles occupy only about two third of their traditional territories, wherein there are low numbers in the east of Scotland. This is probably caused by a few illegal killings in the recent years. Orr-Ewing said that the continued absence of golden eagles in some areas of eastern Scotland remains a real cause for concern and indicates that much work needs to be done.

In the survey, the team found that the greatest increase in numbers of pairs of eagles is in the northern Highlands and the region between the Great Glen and the Stirling in between 2003 and 2015. There is a recovery seen in the west Highlands and the islands.

Meanwhile, the population of the pairs of eagles in the west of Inverness remained stable for more than the past 13 years. The RSPB blames the recreation, persecution, poor weather and forestry for lack of recovery in that region, according to BBC.