NatureScot Commissioned Report 898: Population and future range modelling of reintroduced Scottish white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla)

This report predicts the potential future population size and geographical spread of reintroduced white-tailed eagles in Scotland up to the year 2040. Population modelling was used to estimate its future size.

Revised survival and productivity rates inform this 2016 study. It was commissioned to update an earlier study as wild-bred birds now dominate the population rather than released captive-bred birds.

The study explored various scenarios in relation to:

• the limitations of the landscape
• ‘carrying capacity’
• potential additional mortality – from persecution and wind farms

These scenarios indicated that the population is self-sustaining and likely to continue growing quickly in the short to medium term, and reasonably robust to additional mortality.

Potential geographical spread was modelled based on the habitat preferences and known dispersal and settlement patterns of the reintroduced population. It suggests that the species will continue to be mainly found on Scotland’s western seaboard and in the highlands, with some spread into inland areas.

The report’s findings will inform future conservation actions for the reintroduced population.

Published: 2016
Pages: 62

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