25 Nov 2024
It is extremely disappointing to read reports today that a golden eagle called Sparky has been killed by a wind turbine on Windy Rig Wind Farm in Galloway.
It has been widely reported that onshore wind turbines are a major threat to Scotland’s endangered birds of prey – and it is estimated that at least 33 raptors including eagles have been killed over the last five years due to wind farm strikes.
The investigation into this latest incident was carried out by the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project which has developed state-of-the-art monitoring to boost numbers of the golden eagle population in southern Scotland. 40 birds are being tracked by the project.
The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project quickly found the body of the bird, which was lying 15 metres from a turbine base with its wing detached, and worked with wind farm staff to secure the body for pathological investigations.
The cause of Sparky’s death was confirmed by the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in Dumfries. The tests found that the three-year-old bird had been in good health, concluding that his fatal injuries were ‘typical of those associated with a wind turbine strike.’
This disturbing incident has also caused alarm from many across the south of Scotland who are concerned about the over-proliferation of wind farm projects across Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders.
Dr Cat Barlow, Project Manager of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, said: “Our satellite tagging system allowed us to immediately detect that something untoward had happened to Sparky at Windy Rig Windfarm in Galloway.
“Though sustainable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis and protecting our natural world in the long-term, as Sparky’s death shows, death through wind turbine collision is a risk, so it is important that charities like ours exist to support work to mitigate risks to golden eagles – both at existing sites and when new development proposals are being considered."
The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project was due to conclude this year, but due to demand, they have developed bold new plans and will become a standalone charity named RUN (Restoring Upland Nature) in 2025. The new charity plans to build on the project’s groundbreaking work to ensure golden eagles can continue to soar in southern skies and return to parts of the UK where they are currently absent.
Dr Barlow added: “The need for our new charity, RUN (Restoring Upland Nature), is more important than ever. As a new standalone charity, we can continue to provide a strong voice for golden eagles and other threatened species when it matters most to ensure that nature and humans can thrive alongside each other.”
For more information, visit The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project or learn more about the impact of wind farms on nature here.