Natural Research, Scottish Raptor Study Group members and SNH are co-operating on a project to mark juvenile Golden Eagles with long-lived satellite-received radio transmitters (PTT's). These allow the birds to be tracked during the first years of their lives giving an insight into their movements and what habitats are important to them. For details of movements from July 2005 to 28 April 2006, log into www.natural-research.org/news.htm. SNH have provided funding which will enable transmitters to be fitted to 8 juvenile eagles over the next 2 years.

SNH have announced formal consultations following the Scottish Executive's decision to designate the Strath Carnaig and Strath Fleet Moors in East Sutherland as a Special Protection Area. The moorlands of East Sutherland are one of the best breeding sites for Hen Harrier in Scotland and part of a long term breeding study by members of the Highland Raptor Study Group.

RSPB have just published results of the above survey which showed that there were 360 breeding females in England and Scotland compared to 156 in the count ten years ago. More than 800 young fledged in 2005. This is a fantastic 200 year high due to a crackdown on toxic chemicals, illegal persecution, and the re-creation of wetland habitats. Whilst numbers in Scotland have struggled, according to Harry Bell of the Tayside RSG 2006 is looking better in the main study area. For a full report log in to www.rspb.org.uk/action/harrierhigh.asp.

Many raptor workers are concerned about the decline of mountain hares, not just an important part of our upland ecosystems, but an important food source for Golden Eagles. An article by Rob Edwards in The Sunday Herald of 16th April highlights regarding the systematic culling of mountain hares by landowners to preserve red grouse stocks for shooting. The hare is being blamed for spreading a tick which carries a virus fatal to grouse chicks. This culling appears to be a clear breach of the 1992 Habitats Directive and Neil MacDonald, a retired Police Sergeant and former Wildlife Liaison Officer has made a complaint to the European Commission. Neither the Scottish Executive or SNH would appear to have taken any action to stem the slaughter.

On 25.4.2006 a gamekeeper on the Cabrach Estate shot two Buzzards he had caught in a Crow Trap. He was subsequently charged and due to the seriousness of the offence the matter was fast-tracked by the 'Fiscal. He appeared in Court, pled Guilty and was fined a paltry £200 when potentially the fine could have been ten times this level. The fact that an additional 11 Buzzards were found buried in rabbit holes near the Crow Trap was not even mentioned in the court. Unfortunately this low level of fine totally undermines the good work carried out by the WCO and the Fiscal in this case. All the more irritating when the Estate involved has been the subject of several persecution investigations in the past. The press report can be read at www.pressandjournal.co.uk and search under 'fine for gamekeeper who shot Buzzards caught in trap' - there is also an opportunity to comment on the case in the web site.

The Scottish Raptor Study Groups annual conference will be held at Battleby, Perth, on Saturday 24th February, 2007. The Conference is being organised by Central Scotland RSG. (Visitors to the site please note this is a closed -members only conference)