Relief as eagle is rescued

A white-tailed eagle rescued by a gamekeeper is“successfully back in the skies where it belongs”following weeks of rehabilitation.

Tayside and Central Scotland Moorland Group confirmed the young raptor had been nursed back to full health after it was discovered “struggling”in August.

The eagle had previously been rehabilitated by Scottish SPCA in June after it came to the attention of staff on Argyll Estate.

It was captured in order for it to be treated and it was established then that it was suffering from dehydration and a malformed beak, which can cause birds problems in the wild.

Gamekeepers in Perthshire were then asked to look out for the three-year-old bird by NatureScot after its tag, fitted by them, indicated that the bird had recently moved into the Highland Perthshire area.

Then last month a local gamekeeper found the grounded eagle during his morning duties and became fearful for its survival.

The bird was wet and not moving and seemed outwardly to be in poor condition.

They gave it sustenance and shelter and delivered it to Crieff Vets, before it was fully rehabilitated at SSPCA Fishcross.

A spokesperson for Tayside and Central Scotland Moorland Group said:“The eagle was collected from Crieff vets by the SSPCA and taken to SSPCA Fishcross.

“The bird then went through a period of rehabilitation and assessment with associated tests. Luckily there were no underlying health conditions identified in the blood tests.

“It’s beak was also assessed again and thankfully there has been no new regrow of the deformity that was initially discovered when the SSPCA first rescued this bird in

Argyll.

“Whilst with the SSPCA the bird was moving and feeding well and considered in good enough condition for release.

“The bird was then released on a previous flight path and flew away very well.

“We will keep you updated if there is anything else to report but we are so pleased that thanks to the cooperation between us and our keepers, NatureScot and the SSPCA, this bird is successfully back in the skies where it belongs.”

White-tailed eagles or sea eagles were reintroduced to Scotland and have been described as a conservation success, with an estimated 150 breeding pairs now resident.

NatureScot fitted the satellite tag as part of ongoing work related to the White-Tailed Eagle Action Plan.

It was hoped that the data this tag collects would help inform ongoing work on white-tailed eagle predation of lambs should the bird eventually establish a territory in Argyll, where this is an ongoing issue.