Golden Eagle satellite tagged in Assynt
On the 30th June 2011 Andy Summers and Derek Spenser from Assynt accompanied Roy Dennis to an eagle eyrie near Canisp. Their mission was to put a satellite tag on a Golden Eagle chick, Aquila chrysaetos. The solitary chick was about seven weeks old and looking very healthy. In the nest we found the remains of four red grouse, several legs of red deer calves and a skull (possibly badger).
This female eagle chick was being fitted with a satellite tag so that her movements could be followed for the next three or four years. By that time, should the eagle survive, she will be old enough to breed and hopefully have settled in a breeding territory of her own. This is part of a research project conducted, under license, by the Highland Wildlife Foundation (now the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation) to monitor the movement and survival of young eagles.
This is the second Golden Eagle chick from Assynt to be fitted with a satellite tag. In June 2010 a young male, christened ‘Suilven‘ by the children of Lochinver and Stoer Primary School was fitted with a tag. Suilven has already been as far north as Cape Wrath and as far south as Skye.
We look forward to ‘Canisp‘, as she was later named, taking her first flight which, all being well, should be around the end of July.
A Summers (4/7/11)
UPDATE – to follow the history of these birds click their name. This will take you to their own page on the website of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation.