Sea eagles together with farmers and crofters, are set to benefit from a new £80,000 project. The three year scheme will see Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) working with farmers and crofters to help the birds throughout the areas where they breed.
Scotland’s sea eagle population has reached a record high since the birds were re-introduced on the Isle of Rum 36 years ago. But they are still considered to be rare with just 52 adult breeding pairs across the country. The birds are also known as white tailed eagles, they lay up to three eggs in March with chicks leaving the nest in late July or August.
Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “We are really pleased to have been involved in the development of workable measures that help support the conservation and management of these magnificent birds.”
The scheme, which is planned to start this summer, will focus on agreements with farmers and crofters as well as promoting the birds potential for tourism.
Jonnie Hall, head of rural policy for NFU Scotland, said: “The aims and measures of the new scheme clearly reflect the inter-dependence of conservation and farming interests.”
Last year the results of in-depth monitoring found that sea eagles were not causing the deaths of a significant number of lambs in the Wester Ross area which had been a cause for concern amongst local crofters.