There have been studies of raptors in the Highlands for the past 100 years. Pioneers such as Seton Gordon studied Golden Eagles on Skye and in Strathspey during the first half of the 20 th Century. In 1983, a group of amateur raptor enthusiasts who had been investigating breeding birds of prey in the area for many years, formed the Highland Raptor Study Group, the second RSG to be formed in Scotland. The group has over 40 members who operate from Skye east to the River Spey and the Cairngorms and from Caithness to Loch Etive. This huge area, roughly a quarter of Scotland, contains virtually all habitats used by raptors and most of the species known to have bred in Scotland (except Montagu's Harrier, Snowy and Little Owls) have been studied by group members.

Group members have studied the recovery of the Osprey in Scotland since they were rediscovered breeding at Loch Garten in 1954. There are now over 80 pairs breeding the group's area and are monitored by a small team of dedicated workers led by Roy Dennis and Colin Crooke. The provision of over 100 artificial eyries by these dedicated individuals has greatly assisted this expansion.

The re-introduction of Red Kites on the Black Isle from 1989 by the RSPB, has seen the establishment of a population of 39 pairs by 2005. Unfortunately, the further expansion of this population is currently being constrained by illegal persecution. This is a threat that effects the population of several of Highland raptor species, such as Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle and Peregrine. The work done by group members is helping to monitor the impact of this illegal activity and is assisting statutory and voluntary agencies to combat crime.

Some group members, with the assistance of funding through the Highland Foundation for Wildlife, Forestry Commission and others have been instrumental in two pioneering satellite tracking studies, which studied the migration of Highland Ospreys and Honey buzzards to their wintering grounds in Africa and the Iberian peninsula.

The vast area of the Highlands naturally means that RSG members are unable to monitor all breeding birds of prey in the area. However, it currently monitors the following species: - Honey buzzard (<5 prs), Red Kite (39 prs), White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier (1pr), Hen Harrier (40-50 prs), Goshawk (5-10 prs), Sparrowhawk (<5 prs), Common Buzzard (c100 prs), Golden Eagle (50-60 prs), Osprey (c80 prs), Kestrel (c20 prs), Merlin (c35 pairs), Hobby (1 pr), Peregrine (c50 prs), Barn Owl (c25 prs), Tawny Owl (40-50 prs), Long-eared Owl (<5 prs), Short-eared owl (<5 prs) and Raven (c20 prs).

HRSG is a progressive team of enthusiasts that welcome new members who share their passion for monitoring birds of prey and the appeal of carrying out fieldwork on an impressive assemblage of raptors in the some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain.

David Jardine

Photographs © David Jardine

Contact: Brian Etheridge

Cairngorm Northern Corries from Loch Morlich

Native pinewood in Badenoch and Strathspey

Slioch, Torridon in early March