A golden eagle chick has successfully fledged from a nest located on a managed grouse moor in the south of Scotland for the first time. The bird, named Beaky Junior by local gamekeepers, hatched at an undisclosed site in the Moffat Hills on land used for recreational gamebird shooting.
A Milestone for Regional Recovery
The successful fledging is considered a major milestone by Restoring Upland Nature (Run), the organization leading the effort to restore golden eagle populations in the Southern Uplands. The initiative began in the summer of 2018 by relocating young birds from the Scottish Highlands to the region.
Before the reintroduction project started, golden eagle numbers in southern Scotland had dropped to just a few breeding pairs. The regional population has now reached a record high of more than 50 birds. Beaky Junior is one of five golden eagle chicks to successfully fledge in the area this year, despite past incidents where released birds were shot or killed.
The event occurs following a report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which documented 182 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents in Scotland over a 10-year period. The report noted that 64.3% of those incidents took place on land managed for gamebird shooting.
Partnership Between Land Managers and Conservationists
Dr Cat Barlow, chief executive of Run, stated that support from landowners and gamekeepers was essential to the project’s success. She explained that estate staff actively monitor and protect the birds and their nesting sites. Barlow noted that having five chicks fledge this year provides genuine hope for reversing biodiversity decline across Scotland, England, and Wales.
Michael Clarke, chair of Run, highlighted that individuals across the community contributed to supporting the eagles. He added that the project will continue to monitor the birds’ impact on the local area alongside land managers, farmers, and residents.
Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land and Estates, praised the collaboration between gamekeepers and conservationists, describing the chick’s fledging as a strong example of shared conservation goals.
The gamekeepers involved requested anonymity to keep the exact nest location protected. Speaking on their behalf, Mark Ewart, regional coordinator at the Southern Uplands Moorlands Group, noted that routine habitat management and monitoring by gamekeepers remain central to supporting golden eagles and other native species in the area.
