Case Studies
Two Golden Eagle chicks hatched at ScottishPower Renewables’ Beinn an Tuirc Windfarm site
Two Golden Eagle chicks hatched at ScottishPower Renewables’ Beinn an Tuirc Windfarm site
A pair of Golden Eagles nesting in a uniquely created habitat management area beside ScottishPower Renewables’ Beinn an Tuirc Windfarm in Argyll have successfully hatched two chicks – the first eaglets recorded from this nest in more than a decade. The conservation area is the largest of its kind in the UK for Golden Eagles, and was created by ScottishPower Renewables with investment of more than £2 million during construction of the windfarm.
The chicks, nicknamed “Ben” and “Turk”, were hatched in May and have been closely observed by researchers from Natural Research Projects Ltd, ornithological consultants to ScottishPower Renewables. The fact that two chicks have now fledged is remarkable – statistically the younger chick only has a 20% chance of surviving the crucial first weeks.
The healthy eaglet siblings have recently taken their maiden flights from the nest and both have been fitted with satellite transmitters to monitor their movements over the next 2-3 years.
The 30 MW Beinn an Tuirc Windfarm site, which consists of 46 turbines, was commissioned in 2001. During its construction a major habitat restoration project was initiated to enhance the local environment in order to support the eagles – which had experienced a number of fallow years prior to the windfarm project, thought to have been caused by poor quality hunting in the surrounding land.
At 1,215 hectares, the windfarm site has the largest conservation project of its kind for Golden Eagles in the UK. The scheme is delivered by ScottishPower Renewables and managed in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB, the Local Authority and Forestry Commission Scotland.
ScottishPower Renewables have also been looking to reintroduce mountain hares at the Beinn an Tuirc site. Hares haven’t populated this part of the land for a number of decades, but they are considered important for the development of a sustainable ecological environment at the site.
David Macarthur, ecologist for ScottishPower Renewables, said: “The loss of open foraging areas in West Scotland has had a devastating effect on the Golden Eagle population in recent times so we are delighted with the success of our habitat restoration project. We fund an experienced conservation ranger in the local community to deliver much of the habitat management work and have invested over £2 million restoring the habitat and hunting grounds for the nesting eagles beside our windfarm.
“Initially 450 hectares of conifer plantation was cleared allowing for the return of traditional heather moorland which encouraged the resurgence of Red Grouse – a key prey source for the eagles. Now we have heather, blaeberry and cotton grass all re-established in the conservation area and healthy populations of Red and Black Grouse.
“The news of two healthy Golden Eagle chicks, after a few barren years, is fantastic for the Golden Eagle population and proof that our habitat management programme is paying real dividends. We hope that this continues for generations to come.”
Zoe Clelland, RSPB Scotland's senior conservation officer for the region, said: "RSPB Scotland welcomes the great news that two Golden Eagle chicks have successfully fledged from a nest site at Beinn an Tuirc. We have worked very closely with ScottishPower over a number of years to try and ensure that the risk to Golden Eagles from the windfarm would be minimised. We particularly welcome the substantial investment of time, effort and money that ScottishPower has put into the restoration and management of a large area of alternative eagle habitat. This appears to have been successful in encouraging the eagles to hunt over the area of restored habitat rather than the windfarm site.”
ScottishPower Renewables has also pledged support to the RSPB’s Protection of Birds of Prey Campaign, which shows its continued commitment to developing renewable energy responsibly. The campaign, which ScottishPower Renewables will sponsor in 2009, is aimed at stopping the illegal killing of Scotland’s birds of prey.
Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland said: “We’re very grateful for this generous donation. Scotland has an amazing diversity of birds of prey, and the fact that some species are only now recovering from centuries of human persecution makes it even more heartbreaking when cases of illegal killing are reported.
“Thankfully, most people condemn this practice, and we are asking for people to stand up and be counted by signing up to our campaign.
“We also look to enlightened companies to ensure that the developments they propose take full account of the needs of species like Golden Eagles, and the high standard set by ScottishPower Renewables is much appreciated by RSPB Scotland.”
ScottishPower Renewables is a leader in the field of developing habitat management plans at its windfarm developments and currently operates habitat management areas covering 3,424 hectares. Planned habitat management areas at Whitelee Windfarm and others in the planning process would bring the total area managed for biodiversity at ScottishPower's windfarms to 57 km2 - an area approaching the size of the city of Dundee (65 km2).
