Golden Eagles are still heavily persecuted in many parts of Scotland. This keeps the bird from recolonizing areas where it has already been extirpated. According to the RSPB and a recently published report about Golden Eagle conservation in Scotland persecution is still the major threat to the species.

In 2003, there were 440 breeding pairs of Golden Eagles in Great Britain. All of those pairs are in Scotland. In England, where there is suitable habitat, there is currently only one single male.

The biggest problem is in the central and eastern Highlands of Scotland, where many suitable Golden Eagle territories are not occupied by the eagles and where the population is currently declining.

Golden Eagles are often killed because they are seen as competition grouse hunters. Often, poisoned baits are used to kill raptors and mammals like foxes. The Golden Eagle regularly feeds on carrion, especially during winter. Young and immature birds also feed often on carrion. That behavior makes them very vulnerable to poisoning.

In order to keep the current population stable and help it increase in the coming years (including spreading to new territories in currently unoccupied areas in Scotland and also in England and Wales), it’s very important to stop the illegal killing of Golden Eagles.
Stopping that threat would also help other raptors who suffer from illegal shooting and poisoning like Hen Harries, Common Buzzards, Northern Goshawks, Red Kites or White-tailed Eagles.

More information:
RSPB information about Golden Eagle persecution:
http://blogs.rspb.org.uk/investigations/archive/2008/07/14/Golden-Eagle-Report.aspx

A conservation framework for golden eagles:
http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/Report%20No193.pdf

Scottish Raptor Study Groups:
http://www.scottishraptorgroups.org