May is all about getting ready for our next batch of chicks and whilst heading up to the aviaries to jetwash and disinfect them and whilst getting the buckest and scrubbing brushes out of the car last week I looked up to see an owl chick watching with interest!
Getting the aviaires ready took a couple of days and some hard work from some willing volunteers, once we had cleaned them we built our new nests (photos below show the layers of bark chippings and then moss that build a nice comfy eagle nest) and got the padlocks on, CCTV in and signs up, yesterday I had a meeting with our local wildlife crime officer who coordinates security for the site with Fife police, its incredible how many people are now involved in this project and are willing to help, we also managed to acquire a second chest freezer for the eagles' food just for the price of a bottle of black grouse whisky!
Our 2009 birds have followed throse from previous years with tag 8 (a male) who until a couple of months ago had stayed around the Tay estuary reaching Fair Isle and giving the great skuas a shock and then Orkney, where he was joined by a mystery female. Tag V (who had been seen regularly at Tentsmuir point) is now a regular at the Ythan estuary North-east Scotland, following tag F and 'Ralf' from previous years. Birds are also frequently being seen in Angus with a roost near Fettercairn and sightings up Glen Clova. I was lucky enough to see one of our 2007 females (tag 7) who has been on Mull for the past 6 months, having a brief fight with a young golden eagle over Glen Ogil estate whilst out tracking last week. Another west coast visitor wandered east recnetly with 'Oran' one of the satellite-tagged Mull chicks moving north-east through Perthshire on the 2nd June, ending up in Moray and certainly encountering some of our east coasters on the way, you can follow his movements at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/mulleagles/index.asp
Chick collection began in Norway yesterday with a 5 week old male collected from nest near Ulsteinvik and our next lot of chicks will arrive on the 25th June.
Hi Claire well what a surprise Sea Eagles cannot naturally colonise Norfolk because of North Sea,could you please explain that no North Sea between healthy population in Scotland and Norfolk.Really unfortunate that as soon as Sea Eagles leave the Islands they seem to run into serious problems and if only these problems could be avoided the population would increase at a faster rate as i believe the Norwegian population although obviously starting in better health for a start seems to have done really well hence having enough for us to have some which with all that is happening is a fantastic gesture and which all of us lucky enough to have seen the Sea Eagles must be really grateful.Sorry Sea Eagles but until RSPB have a different attitude to land owners in England please stay in Scotland as i consider you much safer.How very very strange that they seem to have a completely different attitude to land owners in Somerset where there is going to be a re introduction of Cranes and the RSPB have asked for the land owners help.In summary brickbats for the attitude of RSPB in Norfolk,three cheers for there attitude in Somerset.Really weird to have such different attitudes.