South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project

Through an ambitious five-year programme of conservation translocations, the team has boosted numbers to around 50 birds - more than have been seen in the region for three centuries. Led by Restoring Upland Nature, the project brings together landowners, conservation organisations and local communities to secure a future for this iconic apex predator, a vital component of ecosystem health.

Translocations, monitoring, community outreach and close cooperation with land managers have helped transform a few isolated golden eagles into a population that is beginning to flourish again.

NatureSpy is proud to support the project by donating trail cameras to help monitor the eagles. The cameras allow the team to identify individual birds, observe their condition at feeding sites and develop a detailed understanding of how eagles are recovering in the south of Scotland.

The recovery of golden eagles in southern Scotland is a landmark conservation success. Historically widespread, eagle numbers plummeted due to human persecution and changes in land use, leaving only three breeding pairs in the region. With natural recolonisation from the north unlikely, the project undertook a carefully planned conservation translocation.

Over five years, eaglets were collected from robust northern territories before being transported to purpose-built aviaries in the Southern Uplands. After a short settling period, the young birds were released into the Moffat Hills, supported by supplementary feeding to help them through their first winter.

Each eagle was fitted with a satellite tag and a colour ring to monitor movements and survival, allowing the team to build a clear picture of how the population is establishing itself.

Community engagement has been central to the project’s success. Outreach programmes, school sessions, talks and the annual Moffat Golden Eagle Festival have helped reconnect people with eagles and foster pride in their return. Partnerships with landowners, gamekeepers and farmers have strengthened communication and created a foundation for long-term collaboration across the wider landscape.

Trail cameras are an important tool for tracking the project’s progress. Positioned at feeding platforms and other strategic locations, they help identify individual eagles, assess their condition, observe behaviour and confirm which birds are returning to areas. Combined with satellite tagging, they support a fuller picture of how the reinforced population is adapting and expanding across the Southern Uplands.

NatureSpy is supporting the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project by donating Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Ultra trail cameras. These high-quality cameras provide reliable, detailed footage from remote locations, supporting a clearer understanding of how eagles are settling and establishing territories. This insight helps guide long-term conservation and ensures golden eagles remain part of southern Scotland’s landscape for generations to come.