The Central Scotland Raptor Study Group was formed in 1983.  It is responsible for raptor monitoring (primarily in the breeding season) in the Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Stirling Council Areas and also (in old county terms) in Dunbartonshire.  The Group has seventeen full members.  A few "apprentice members" are attached and help with monitoring of certain species, as part of progress towards full membership.

The main species monitored by the Group are Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Osprey, Peregrine, Barn Owl and Raven.  At present, there is some limited monitoring of other raptor species. Raven is treated as an "honorary raptor" and recorded alongside raptor species proper, to a large extent due to its ecological interaction with certain raptors, the Peregrine in particular.  Group members check Red Kite, Hen Harrier and Raven winter roosts within the Group's area of responsibility.

Most raptor monitoring carried out by the Group takes place in the uplands.  There are however intensive lowland studies on Buzzard and Barn Owl carried out by some Group members.  The Group expects to have input to the workings of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and in particular to its proposed Biodiversity Action Plan.

The Group holds regular meetings twice a year, generally a pre breeding season meeting in February and a post breeding one in September.  The affairs of the Group are discussed and agreed at such meetings to which the Wildlife Crime Officer Co-ordinators for Central Scotland Police and Strathclyde Police are invited.  The Ministry of Defence Police has a substantial presence within the Group's area and two officers in that force are members of the Group in their own right through monitoring carried out by them as individuals.

Contact: Patrick Stirling-Aird

Flanders Moss

Braes of Doune

Balquidder Glen West