Golden eagle chicks to be introduced in Borders

The aim is to increase the number of golden eagles in the region. Credit: PA

Golden Eagle chicks are to be introduced to the south of Scotland in an effort to bolster numbers of the rare bird.

The South of Scotland Golden Eagle project has been awarded a ‘first round pass’ of more than one million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the scheme.

A golden eagle in flight. Credit: Laurie Campbell

The aim is to boost numbers of the iconic bird to up to 16 pairs in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders – with the potential to release eagle chicks into the wild in the years ahead.

CCTV ‘eagle cams’ will give the public an opportunity to keep an eagle eye on the chicks as they grow.

At present, there are only two to four pairs in the south of the country with limited nesting success.

The project has more than one million pounds of funding. Credit: PA

Potential sites to release the chicks are now being identified in the Scottish Borders.