Raptortrack is looking forward to another interesting and exciting year – our third year of satellite tracking specific raptors in the Cairngorms National Park. We are planning to track new golden eagles, peregrines and hen harriers, last year we could not find any harriers because they have become so scarce as a breeding species in the park, principally due to persecution in the UK. Hopefully we might be able to catch up with some young short-eared owls and other raptor species. As ever if anyone is really keen on a particular species of raptor and would like to sponsor a satellite transmitter, please get in contact.
Check out Elrick’s latest tour of the Highlands
This website, set up in autumn 2010, tries to tell the life stories of individual raptors living in the Cairngorms National Park and to put this in the context of their conservation. Here you will find details of raptors which have been satellite tracked in the Cairngorms National Park and the aim is to provide regular information from the satellite tracking on their movements and behaviour .
This is a partnership project between the Highland Foundation for Wildlife, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, Natural Research, RSPB and private estates within the National Park . Additional funding in 2010 from Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan and Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Scotland.
The information is presented on the webpage for each species and then each tracked bird is listed under a name. The information on the regular blog for each bird is in reverse date order, after the first introductory post, so that regular visitors can go straight to the latest data. The maps can be enlarged by clicking on the map. The individual birds in the column on the left were tagged by the Highland Foundation for Wildlife, while golden eagles tagged by Natural Research are updated on the link to their website.
SPONSORSHIP We would really appreciate funding for the tracking costs (approx £700 per annum) of the golden eagles – Cullen & Calluna. Please email roydennis@aol.com if you would like to help. Innes and Mackay are sponsored by Innes & Mackay, solicitors Inverness while Agnes is funded by Glenfeshie Estate.
Adult golden eagle – photograph by Laurie Campbell
We satellite tagged more golden eagles, three peregrines and a hen harrier in the National Park in 2011 and three golden eagles, buzzard and hobby in 2012, with three peregrines just on the boundary in 2012, but still have not managed to tag short-eared owl.
Short-eared owl – photograph by Laurie Campbell
