Thousands join Golden Eagle conservation project
Ten thousand people have joined a conservation project aimed at growing the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland.
The project has been set up to address concerns about low numbers of the birds which play a vital role in helping to maintain a healthy local ecosystem.
The team has successfully re-located four golden eagles from the Scottish Highlands to the south. The four birds have settled into their new habitats and are now fending for themselves.
The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project have a five-year plan to increase the number of eagles in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
The plan now is to relocate Golden eagles from the Highlands to the south of Scotland. So far four eagles have been settled into their new habitats.
Before the first eagles arrived in 2018 it was thought there was only between two and four pairs in the south. But a study by Scottish Natural Heritage shows the local habitat is suitable for up to 16 pairs.
So why have the numbers of Golden Eagles dropped? Historically it's been down to persecution but experts believe changes in land use is also a factor.
Eaglets are being relocated from further North in Scotland and brought to custom built aviaries at a confidential location in the Moffat Hills. They are then released into the Southern Uplands to interact with the few resident Eagles.
The hope is that wild Eagles will want to stay in Southern Scotland to interact with the birds that have been reintroduced.
The Eaglets are not collected until they reach 5-8 weeks old, at which point they are feathered, can keep themselves warm and dry and can feed themselves from the food provided.
Watch Lewis Warner's full report:
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