Cairngorms raptor project

Our birds of prey are some of the most loved and iconic species in Scotland. They are an important part of our natural heritage, but they are also a powerful indicator of the health of our ecosystems. That is why the golden eagle, hen harrier, merlin and peregrine falcon are listed as priority species in our National Park Partnership Plan.  

Our approach is one of partnership and by engaging with land managers and experts in the field, we can work together to monitor populations, build understanding of the issues facing raptors and eliminate wildlife crime.   

• Captive golden eagle Lorne Gill/SNH

  

  
• Peregrine in flight Laurie Campbell

  

  
• Merlin on a tree Mark Hamblin

  

  

Survey work  

Core to our approach is good data and evidence. Over time we have been working to build a comprehensive picture of current raptor populations in the National Park, drawing on existing information and filling in any gaps with survey and monitoring or modelling.   

A collaborative approach to monitoring has been trialled in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership area, with the North East Scotland Raptor Study Group, gamekeepers and an independent ecologist working together to monitor raptors.

Raptor data will also be used in the Cairngorms Nature Index to tell us about the health and function of our ecosystems, enabling us to target our conservation work, measure progress against national trends, and evaluate success.  

The Cairngorms peregrine survey 2024 showed a concerning decline in numbers since 2002. This decline is likely a result of a combination of land management practices, decreased prey availability, wildlife crime and, more recently, outbreaks of avian flu.  

We are pursuing a range of options to reverse this decline, from nest cameras that help us understand bird behaviour to DNA work that supports the detection of wildlife crime through illegal trade, and GPS tagging to gather data on bird movements and survival.  

In 2026, the Park Authority is carrying out a survey of breeding merlin to estimate the number of breeding pairs within the Cairngorms National Park, and to provide additional coverage for the national merlin survey. In addition, we’re working to establish how much potential habitat there is for golden eagles and hen harriers in the National Park, allowing us to estimate the potential size of the population the Park could support. We will work collaboratively with land managers to improve structural and species diversity of moorlands to benefit raptors and other wildlife. 

Tagging  

Working with the North East Scotland Raptor Study Group, we fitted three golden eagle chicks with satellite tags in 2025 which constantly monitor their location, giving valuable insights into their behaviours, movements, and habitat usage in the changing landscape of the Cairngorms. We will share stories about the tagged eagles over time, and their movements, to build understanding of this species, and their importance to the landscape and communities of the Cairngorms. Over the next two years we will work with partners to fit a further 12 eagles in the National Park with GPS tags, contributing to a comprehensive picture of golden eagles in Scotland. 

The Park Authority is progressing tagging of other priority raptor species and has funded the purchase of satellite tags to be used by the RSPB. These will be fitted to hen harriers within the National Park over the next two breeding seasons, tracking individual birds’ movements to further inform scientific understanding of the ecology of the species. We are also supporting a trial of peregrine tagging. 

Satellite tag being fitted to a golden eagle chick by licenced raptor workers.  Sarah Henshall

Crime  

Unacceptably, raptor persecution is still happening in and around the National Park. The Park Authority actively supports the detection of crimes against birds of prey in the National Park through data sharing, and works with the Raptor Persecution Tactical Delivery Group, led by Police Scotland to eliminate wildlife crime.