In total, 20 eagle chicks have been translocated for the project since 2018 – with 18 of those coming from estates owned privately and most going to the Moffat area.
Pitmain and Glenbanchor Estate near Kingussie and Rottal Estate near Kirriemuir are among the private estates who have this year worked with the award-winning South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project to translocate eagle chicks from their land.
Other estates to have participated in the project since 2018 include Glenmazeran Estate in Inverness-shire, Jahama Highland Estates near Fort William and Dalnacardoch Estate near Pitlochry.
Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Scotland’s rural estates have been pivotal in supporting the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project from inception through to the release of birds, with 90 per cent of the chicks translocated originating from estates managed privately.”
Project manager Dr Cat Barlow added: “In just a few short years, thanks to the vital support we have received from estates across Scotland, we have more than tripled the local population of golden eagles in the south of Scotland to 39 – the highest number recorded for three centuries.
“It is fantastic to see these majestic birds soar in southern skies once again.”
