Feature: Scotland's Golden Eagle flying high again

The number of pairs of Scotland's Golden Eagle has risen to above 500, a wildlife charity reported Thursday.

Results from the fourth golden eagle survey show the population of these birds of prey has increased by 15 percent since the last survey in 2013, and now stands at 508 pairs of the famous bird of prey.

Officials at Royal Protection for the Society of Birds Scotland (RSPB) said it is now thought Scotland is home to the entire British population of the Golden Eagle, following fears the last surviving golden eagle in England had died.

A spokesman for the RSPB in Scotland said: "The results are significant because the eagle population, having surpassed 500 pairs, now meets the targets identified to define it as having 'favourable conservation status' in the UK. The population increase also highlights the continuing steady recovery in Scotland from very low numbers in the mid-19th century."

Golden eagles mostly live in remote areas, but can often be seen performing their spectacular undulating flight displays in the spring season.

The northern Highlands of Scotland and the central spine of the country, between the Great Glen and Stirlingshire, saw the greatest increase in eagle numbers between 2003 and 2015. Recovery also continues in much of the west Highlands and islands with modest increases noted there.

RSPB Scotland official Duncan Orr-Ewing said:"The sight of a golden eagle soaring in the sky above is an awe-inspiring part of our natural heritage, and this increase in numbers of golden eagle pairs is great news."

"Increased monitoring and satellite tagging of eagles, as well as stronger sanctions against wildlife crime may be serving as effective deterrents against illegal activity, therefore helping their population to increase," said Orr-Ewing.

"However, the continued absence of golden eagles in some areas of eastern Scotland remains a real cause for concern and suggests that much more work needs to be done," added Orr-Ewing.

Andrew Bachell, director at Scottish Natural Heritage. said: "These beautiful birds are such an important part of Scotland's nature, a species which people love to see when they visit our wilder landscapes. It's particularly encouraging to see greater recovery in some areas where persecution had been thought to be a major constraint in the past."

Golden eagles were once common across Britain but had disappeared from Wales and England by the mid 19th century due to widespread persecution. Part of the surviving population in Scotland suffered a sharp decline in breeding success in the 1960s due to organochlorine pesticides which caused mass infertility and eggshell thinning. Endit