This iconic species is Scotland’s national bird. Once widespread around the UK, they became the subject of persecution in the 18th and 19th centuries. By 1850, they’d been wiped out in Wales and England. However, the two World Wars helped them recover a little, as gamekeepers went away to fight. Today, most of the UK’s Golden Eagles live in the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides. England’s last resident Golden Eagle disappeared in 2015. Despite being protected by law, they’re still illegally persecuted: between 2007 and 2022, there were 22 confirmed incidents, including 14 Golden Eagles that were poisoned.
The RSPB works in numerous ways to help Golden Eagles, including work by our investigations team who gather evidence to expose bird crime and work with the police to try to bring criminals to justice. We also campaign for better protection and on our nature reserves and across the wider landscape, we’re helping to restore and manage habitat so that it can support the prey that Golden Eagles need.
