Chris Monk
Well-known member
GOLDEN EAGLES 'BURNED OUT' OF GROUSE AREAS
KELLY WILSON
http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.u...uleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
10:50 - 04 November 2006
A Conservation group has claimed eagles were being prevented from nesting on North-east estates.
The announcement came in the same week that politicians launched a move to crown the golden eagle as Scotland's national bird.
The North East of Scotland Raptor Study Group claimed it had figures to prove golden eagles were being chased away from large swathes of grouse moor on Deeside and Donside.
It claimed birds were being routinely poisoned, trapped and burned out of their nests, blaming gamekeepers.
The keepers denied the allegations and accused the group of bias.
A study group spokesman said: "This is the longest set of records on golden eagle breeding patterns anywhere in the world.
We think it shows clear differences between grouse estates and other sites, and supports what has long been suspected about the persecution of golden eagles."
But the Scottish Gamekeepers Association accused raptor enthusiasts of coming up with "pseudo-science, biased against gamekeepers" and failing to take into account changes in habitat, food supply and other factors.
On estates where shooting for deer is the main activity, the raptor group recorded 611 nesting attempts and 321 occasions when young were reared - a 52% success rate.
But on grouse moors, the breeding success rate dropped to 35%. In 227 attempts only 81 were successful.
The figures were released months after two birds were found killed in the North-east.
Two golden eagles were found poisoned this year, one on the Dinnet and Kinnord estate, near Ballater, and the other in the
Cairngorms National Park.
Despite a £12,000 reward for information, no one has been caught, and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said there was no evidence to suggest members were to blame.
kwilson 'at' ajl.co.uk
KELLY WILSON
http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.u...uleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
10:50 - 04 November 2006
A Conservation group has claimed eagles were being prevented from nesting on North-east estates.
The announcement came in the same week that politicians launched a move to crown the golden eagle as Scotland's national bird.
The North East of Scotland Raptor Study Group claimed it had figures to prove golden eagles were being chased away from large swathes of grouse moor on Deeside and Donside.
It claimed birds were being routinely poisoned, trapped and burned out of their nests, blaming gamekeepers.
The keepers denied the allegations and accused the group of bias.
A study group spokesman said: "This is the longest set of records on golden eagle breeding patterns anywhere in the world.
We think it shows clear differences between grouse estates and other sites, and supports what has long been suspected about the persecution of golden eagles."
But the Scottish Gamekeepers Association accused raptor enthusiasts of coming up with "pseudo-science, biased against gamekeepers" and failing to take into account changes in habitat, food supply and other factors.
On estates where shooting for deer is the main activity, the raptor group recorded 611 nesting attempts and 321 occasions when young were reared - a 52% success rate.
But on grouse moors, the breeding success rate dropped to 35%. In 227 attempts only 81 were successful.
The figures were released months after two birds were found killed in the North-east.
Two golden eagles were found poisoned this year, one on the Dinnet and Kinnord estate, near Ballater, and the other in the
Cairngorms National Park.
Despite a £12,000 reward for information, no one has been caught, and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said there was no evidence to suggest members were to blame.
kwilson 'at' ajl.co.uk
