Raptors

Close up of an Osprey fishing in the Cairngorms National Park

The Osprey

The fortunes of raptor species vary widely across the National Park. The osprey has been a real conservation success story since the first pair recolonised Loch Garten in 1954. White-tailed eagles are beginning to reclaim a foothold here once again after successful reintroductions. Hen harriers by contrast have kept on declining within the National Park with only a small handful now breeding. Golden eagle are fairing better, yet densities are lower in the east than in the west of Scotland despite more abundant live prey and better breeding success. Likewise, numbers of peregrines are not what they could be and there seems to a negative association with areas of grouse shooting. In order to look into what is happening with our raptors, a number of projects and initiatives have been developed.

Raptor Track

This project is a partnership between CNPA, Highland Foundation for Wildlife, PAW Scotland, SNH, RSPB and various land managers throughout the Cairngorms National Park with three main aims:

• Raise awareness of raptor species within the Cairngorms National Park
• Gain information on raptor movements and their behaviour in the Park the Park
• Raise awareness and act as a deterrent to wildlife crime

Due to their conservation status, the main species of focus for this work was golden eagle, hen harrier and peregrine. This project has helped highlight the life stories of individual raptors living in the Cairngorms National Park and to put this in the context of their conservation. Raptors which have been satellite tagged in the Park can be followed online to better understand their movements and behaviour.

For up to date info see www.roydennis.org

Heads Up for Harriers

This partnership project is asking everyone to be on the look out for harriers and report any sightings of these spectacular raptors in Scotland during April – June. This project, part of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife crime (PAW Scotland), is looking for better info on where these birds occur to help in the fight against raptor persecution. If you see a hen harrier over the next few months, note its location (ideally a six figure grid ref), time and what you saw and then report it to the project by phoning the hotline T: 07767 671973 or emailing [email protected].

For more info go to the Heads up for Harriers webpage

Cairngorms Moorland Project

This project is working with six estates with contiguous land holding from Deeside to Glenlivet working on innovative solutions to problems, perceived or otherwise, associated with moorland management. Amongst the issues being discussed is how to allow for more raptor species to thrive on a grouse shooting estate while maintaining a viable business. Developments from this project will be updated as the project develops.