Scottish west coast areas important for golden eagles – almost all in Argyll – may be in line for additional protection.
Following a recent decision by the Scottish Government to look at recognising more areas in Scotland important for this bird, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is about to consult the public on this matter.
On 11th January, SNH launched a public consultation, on behalf of the Scottish Government, on the proposal to create a new Special Protection Areas (SPA) for golden eagles at:
- Glen Fyne
- Glen Etive
- Moidart and Ardgour
- Jura, Scarba and the Garvellachs.
An issue that is bound to be part of the debate on this is that the introduction of these SPA’s may rule out many wind farm applications in Argyll.
Argyll is a good source of wind power. There is a growing community interest in having a stake in such wind farms – owning one of the turbines – and using revenues to increase community and energy sustainability by powering and insulating community homes and premises.
There will be real concern that the introduction of such SPAs might see communities in much of Argyll coincidentally discriminated against in their efforts to develop their own sustainability.
This is likely to be a consulation process where the need for the protection of the human species may come competitively to the fore.
SPAs are protected under European legislation covering rare or vulnerable populations of birds in the European Union.
The west coast sites are part of a series being consulted on in Scotland. The other sites are: Foinaven; Glen Affric to Strathconon and the Cairngorms Massif.
Scotland already has eight SPAs for golden eagles but the Scottish Government has decided to look at adding up to six more to supplement the conservation of this important bird. Golden eagles once ranged over most of Britain but since the 18th century they have been restricted to the more remote and upland areas of Scotland and are still vulnerable.
The consultation is open to all those who have an interest in the area. This includes owners and occupiers of the land, recreational users such as walkers and climbers, scientific groups such as ornithologists and people living in the local area.
All comments received during the consultation process will be collated by SNH and reported to Scottish Ministers. Ministers will then consider the comments before deciding whether to approve the new sites.
Kristin Scott, SNH’s area manager for the West Highlands says: ‘SNH is pleased that the Scottish Government is considering increasing the numbers of protected sites for golden eagles and we look forward to running the consultation exercise on their behalf’.
Andrew Campbell, Operations Manager for SNH in Argyll adds: ‘Golden eagles are one of Scotland’s iconic species and we have responsibility for an important proportion of Europe’s golden eagle population in parts of our country. The existing SPAs show that eagles and traditional land management can co-exist happily side-by-side. Increasing the profile of golden eagles may also
bring other benefits to the local economy through the growing opportunities that exist for activities such as wildlife watching’.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks, from Wednesday 13th January 2010 to Wednesday 7 April 2010 inclusive.
More information and how to comment on the consultation can be found here on the SNH website.
Responses can be made:
- by email to: golden_eagle_spa_consultation_response@snh.gov.uk
- in writing to SPA consultation responses, Scottish Natural Heritage, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW.
Given the very real conflict of interests between the protection of human and bird species, compromise on this proposal might be advised.
The photograph above, of a Golden Eagle, is by copyright holder Laurie Campbell and is reproduced here by permission from SNH.
I am puzzled that Eagles and other birds of prey who I was taught could spot a vole from 2,000 feet have problems with windturbines that maight by30Fett or so in circumference
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Birds live and use thermals and are highly attuned to their presence and to thir vagaries. It is inconceivable that the air turbulence around the turbine blades is not felt and avoided by birds. To the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence that a wind turbine has ever taken out birds – reinforced by the fact that objectors never refer to precedents where this has happened. They simply claim that it will. There is too much weight given to the automatic resistance by bodies like SNH to windfarm applications on the grounds that eagles will be killed. The proposed Stacain windfarm near Inveraray was rejected after a public enquiry where it was shown that the breeding pair of eagles on which the SNH objection was based were in fact elderly and had not had a chick for something like a decade. But the dubious claim was accepted nevertheless and the objection upheld.
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The real stinky bit of the proposed Loch Fyne / Loch Etive SPA is why SNH lumped the Loch Fyne area in with the Loch Etive area so that it passes the first test for an SPA. There are only two pairs of Eagles in Loch Fyne area and as such it does not even get close to qualifying for SPA status on its own. Loch Etive has 17 pairs and as such it does qualify. The Loch Etive area is also much closer to Moidart and Ardgour SPA so why not lump those areas together?
Also why is the SPA now drawn around the wind farm at Clachan Flats?
The boundaries for this SPA are wrong, the Loch Fyne area is not that useful to Eagles, the eagle collision risk for the Stacain Windfarm development is a mere 2.88. Whilst the two windfarm developments on the Isle of Lewis at Eishken and Pairc have an eagle collision risk of over 38. Despite the facts the Scottish Government have stated that the Isle of Lewis developments are Ok. So clearly this has nothing to do with saving Eagles and more to do with controlling local councils that choose to reject SNH’s poorly researched and presented arguments to every wind farm development as the A&B Council did with the Stacain wind farm. Now our local farmers will pay dearly as not only will wind farms be a no go, so will forestry, and this will have a serious impact on local employment in this fragile highland economy in years to come.
So yet again our elected officials whom represent our interest and understand out local issues are over ruled by an unelected, unaccountable and an out of touch department of civil servants whom we never elected or had any say in their appointments. Who says we live in a democracy. This is simply wrong wrong wrong!!!!
Don’t put up with it. Vent your spleen and drop Roseanne Cunningham (Environment Minister)an email asking her to reconsider the boundaries around the proposed Loch Fyne SPA.
You can email Roseanne at golden_eagle_spa_consultation_response@snh.gov.uk
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Newsroom I believe that the application was not rejected because the reporter believed the Eagles were in danger but because SNH decided to include it in a last minute SPA. They lost the fight at every junction but rather accept the will of the local people they frigged the boundaries and called it a proposed SPA and said stuff the local population and farmers. An SPA was not even mentioned until the wind farm was approved by A&B Council and they wanted it called in by the government. The area itself does not even qualify as an SPA so they have attached to an area miles away and called it one area so that the maths stacks up.
Following the Basses Corbieres ruling by the European Court of Justice every government is now running scared of massive fines and as such SNH holds a very large stick over the Scottish Government’s head, give us what we want or we stick our solicitors on you and we have euro case law on our side. Take about watching a growing man cry, how about watching your government cry as SNH tightens its grip around their nether region. We are creating a monster here in SNH.
Sceptics may think, with all the public services cuts coming, SNH now has to police this extra 350,000 hectares of sterilised land, so their jobs are going to be safe, eh.
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Ken
there has never been a single Eagle killed in the UK by a wind turbine. There is also Eagles within ranging distance of every wind farm in Argyll. Further a pair a of Golden Eagle chicks called Ben and Turk were successfully reared at the Scottish Power Beinn an Tuirc wind farm here in Argyll. This is why A&B Council rejected SNH’s objection and granted planning permission for Stacain.
The Stacian Wind Farm developers at the public hearing in Inveraray stated that they would provide the same resources to support the two Eagle pairs in Glen Fyne. I cannot understand why SNH did not jump at the offer given it has been proven to improve the Eagles chances of breeding. They need a good feeding during the breeding season not saved from turbine blades that have never given them a days harm. The wind farm would have guaranteed their feeding. SNH is out to lunch on this matter, ignoring good science that does not fit their hidden agenda of saving the boys jobs…
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My question was more than a little “tongue in cheek.”.
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I did appreciate that Ken,
but it gave me the opportunity air some truths on this matter for the other readers that may not be up to speed on the facts and may be buying into SNH propaganda. After all they are well respected government department and would not lie or fudge the fact.
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