Golden eagle chick fledges on managed grouse moor in south Scotland
Beaky Junior is the first golden eagle chick to fledge from a nest on a managed grouse moor in the Moffat Hills, project Restoring Upland Nature says, as regional numbers reach a record.
At a glance
- Beaky Junior is the first golden eagle chick to fledge from a managed grouse moor nest in south Scotland, at a secret Moffat Hills site.
- Golden eagles were relocated from the Highlands to the Moffat Hills from 2018; numbers in south Scotland now exceed 50, a record.
- An RSPB report found 182 confirmed bird-of-prey persecution incidents in Scotland over 10 years; 64.3% were on gamebird-shooting land.
A golden eagle chick named Beaky Junior has become the first to fledge from a nest on a managed grouse moor in the south of Scotland, the project behind the region's eagle recovery says. The bird hatched at a secret location in the Moffat Hills, at a site used for recreational gamebird shooting, and is one of five golden eagle chicks successfully fledged in the area this year.
The fledging is being treated as a "hugely significant milestone" by Restoring Upland Nature (Run), which runs the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project. Dr Cat Barlow, Run's chief executive, said the project had received "incredible support" from landowners and gamekeepers, calling their backing "absolutely vital" to restoring golden eagle numbers.
Translocation and record numbers
The project to relocate birds from the Highlands to a secret location in the Moffat Hills started in summer 2018. Numbers in the south of Scotland had fallen to a handful of breeding pairs, but they are now at a record level of more than 50, despite setbacks that have included birds being shot at or killed.
Beaky Junior was named by local gamekeepers in recognition of the "key role" they played in helping golden eagles thrive. The gamekeepers involved asked to remain anonymous to protect the bird's location. Mark Ewart, regional co-ordinator at the Southern Uplands Moorlands Group, said it was "incredibly rewarding" to see gamekeepers celebrated. He said monitoring and providing the right habitats for golden eagles and other species was an important part of their day-to-day work.
Persecution backdrop
The milestone comes after a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) report revealed that two-thirds of UK persecution incidents involving birds of prey had occurred at similar sites. Earlier this year, the report highlighted 182 confirmed persecution incidents involving birds of prey in Scotland over a 10-year period. It said the majority - 64.3% - had occurred on land managed for gamebird shooting.
Against that backdrop, efforts in southern Scotland to encourage estates and conservationists to work together are seen as particularly important. Dr Barlow said the fledging of five chicks from the nests of translocated birds gave "genuine hope" in the battle to reverse biodiversity decline and ensure future generations could experience the "incredible sense of awe" of seeing a golden eagle.
Michael Clarke, who chairs Run, said individuals from "all walks of life" had helped the birds to thrive. He added that they would continue to monitor the impact of the golden eagles on the area with support from land managers, gamekeepers, farmers and the wider community.
Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of landowner body Scottish Land and Estates, said it was thrilled that gamekeepers had named the chick. She called Beaky Junior's arrival a "powerful example" of what can be achieved when land managers and conservationists unite behind a shared vision grounded in trust and genuine partnership.
Source: BBC Science.
Questions and answers
- What is Beaky Junior?
- Beaky Junior is a golden eagle chick that became the first to fledge from a nest on a managed grouse moor in the south of Scotland. It hatched at a secret location in the Moffat Hills and was named after its mother, Beaky.
- Why is the chick's fledging significant?
- Restoring Upland Nature calls it a "hugely significant milestone" because it happened on a managed grouse moor, and it is seen as a symbol of co-operation between landowners, gamekeepers and conservationists.
- What did the RSPB report find about bird-of-prey persecution?
- It highlighted 182 confirmed persecution incidents involving birds of prey in Scotland over a 10-year period, with 64.3% on land managed for gamebird shooting. It also said two-thirds of UK persecution incidents involving birds of prey occurred at similar sites.
