Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
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Distribution Britain 408 (+5.4%) Ireland 0
Numbers breeding: Britain 422 Ireland 0 European status: 5,400 (8% in Britain and Ireland =4) British population trend: stable How likely are you to record it? 9 squares (0.2%) Ranked 151= |
This huge predator with its vast home range has never been common but was very severely persecuted by gamekeepers and shepherds — and trophy collectors. They were gone from Wales by about 1750. In Ireland breeding stopped in 1912 with only an unsuccessful pair in Antrim since (1950s). A pair (sometimes 2) have tried to nest in England since 1960 after an absence of about 180 years. However this is a bird of the Highlands of Scotland where there are 422 pairs (1992) — almost static since 1982 (424) although the area occupied has altered. The species gradually recovered as legal protection was observed but illegal persecution and egg collecting still happen. Some forty years ago the birds were also affected by toxic chemicals, mainly from sheep dips. Carrion, rabbits and hares are probably in good supply. They may spread to other parts of the southern Scotland, expand in northern England and return to Ireland where a reintroduction scheme is due to start in Donegal. Set fair?
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
Golden Eagle
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead