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Children condemn persecution of golden eagles
25/01/2010
Efforts to strengthen populations of golden eagles in the Highlands were the focus of two visits by Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham today.
Ms Cunningham visited the Highland Foundation for Wildlife where conservation efforts in and around the Glenfeshie Estate are helping to improve knowledge and understanding of the species.
Led by enthusiast Roy Dennis, the foundation is running a series of projects including satellite tracking, creating nesting sites, relocation and managing birds.
When Alma, one of the eagles involved in the tracking programme, was found poisoned, the children from Alvie Primary School, in the Cairngorms, who had been studying the conservation project, wrote to Roseanna Cunningham to express their concern over the species' persecution.
Speaking during her visit to the school, Roseanna Cunningham said:
"I share these youngsters' passion for these magnificent birds. They are enthusiastic, but their enthusiasm is tinged with sadness and disgust at the acts of deliberate cruelty involved in their persecution.
"Alma was the first eagle to be tracked by radio transmitter in Scotland. Her daily travels were followed by many on the website and conservationists learned so much about her first years of life.
"This learning continues at Alvie Primary where the golden eagle project has helped children learn valuable lessons about this species including building an eyrie in the playground.
"Generating enthusiasm and respect for wildlife among the young should help minimise, if not end, their persecution."
Alvie Primary School Head Teacher, Hilary Brown said:
"The pupils were devastated when they heard over the summer holidays of the death of Alma by illegal poisoning.
"They felt so strongly that they wanted to make their voices heard so they designed posters concerning illegal poisoning and wrote to the Minister of the Environment inviting her to visit to find out more about their views and ideas for tackling this issue.
"The project has been extremely meaningful and relevant to the children and I am extremely proud of their commitment to the environment and, in particular, to the unofficial emblem of Scotland, the golden eagle."
Duncan Macdonald, a Countryside Ranger for Highland Council described it as "pleasure to witness the drive and passion of the pupils as they involved themselves with the hard reality of life as a top predator."
Will Boyd-Wallis, Senior Land Management Officer for the Cairngorms National Park Authority said:
"It is a credit to the children of Alvie Primary School that they didn't just grumble about the death of Alma. They took action and invited the Minister to come to the Strath and hear their concerns."
The golden eagles project was the brainchild of Roy Dennis, of the Highland Foundation for Wildlife; it was set up in 2007 to study the cultural behaviour of young eagles. It is run in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, private estates and others and is developing a series of schools projects.
The Scottish Government hopes to increase Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the golden eagle by over 40,000 hectares. Scottish Natural Heritage is consulting on plans to create six more SPAs. These are Glen Affric in the Central Highlands, the Cairngorm Massif, Foinaven at Durness, Moidart near Fort William, Glen Etive, and the isles of Jura, Scarba and the Garvellachs.
There are currently eight Special Protection Areas for Golden Eagles in Scotland. These are Caenlochan in the Grampians, Cairngorms, Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands, Cnuic agus Cladach Mhuile (Mull Coast and Hills), Cuillins on Skye, Lewis Peatlands, North Harris Mountains, and the Isle of Rum.
The golden eagle is Britain's second largest bird of prey. It has a wing span of approximately 2m with females the larger of the species. Males weigh 3.5kg and females 5kg. Their preferred habitat is wild countryside of peatlands, uplands and mountains. They are opportunistic feeders preying on hares, grouse, deer calves, rabbits, seabirds and carrion. There are an estimated 442 breeding pairs in the UK. Threats to the golden eagle include disturbance, inappropriate development and land management and loss of habitat.