How much would it cost to keep the golden eagle in Scotlands skies?
The exact answer is probably beyond The Midgie’s ken, but it cost a whopping £2million to ensure that the first pair of Scottish golden eagle chicks born in over a decade were able to fly the nest safely. Scientists from Scottish Power were concerned that Ben and Turk, the baby eagles, would be sliced up by the new wind turbines built nearby, so the electricity giant embarked on an unprecedented project to make sure that didn’t happen. The largest conservation area in the UK was created for the chicks and their parents to hunt in, with its natural heather restored and prey such as red grouse, hares and rabbits reintroduced. Scientists also attached satellite transmitters to the chicks to monitor them over the next three years, making sure they are safe and well but also gathering valuable data to make sure they can help more chicks survive into adulthood. Sadly, the golden eagle is becoming a rare sight in Scottish skies, driven out by the destruction of traditional habitat. Although t
