Golden eagle killed in Scotland’s first recorded wind turbine incident

On By Pranco

Bodycam footage shows a police officer rescuing the eagle, which ended up under his vehicle and appeared to be in distress. (Courtesy of Mohave County Sheriff’s Office)

GALLOWAY, Scotland – A golden one eagle in Scotland was killed by a wind turbine, the first recorded incident of its kind in the area.

The South Scotland Golden Eagle Project confirmed the death of the bird of prey in the Galloway region following a recent pathological examination on Monday.

The Veterinary Investigation Center at Scotland’s Rural College in Dumfries said it has carried out several tests which showed that the bird to be in good condition and concluded that his fatal injuries were “typical of those associated with a wind turbine strike.”

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The golden eagle is the most widely distributed eagle species.

(Avalon/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

Until his death, the three-year-old male, named Sparky, was closely monitored by the conservation initiative aimed at boosting the region’s golden eagle population.

Researchers first discovered the bird’s remains near a turbine base on August 22, with its wing loose.

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Golden eagle killed by wind turbine in southern Scotland

Researchers first discovered the bird’s remains near a turbine base on August 22, with its wing loose.

(South Scotland Golden Eagle Project)

“Our satellite tagging system allowed us to immediately detect that something unusual had happened to Sparky at Windy Rig Windfarm in Galloway,” said Cat Barlow, project manager of the Golden Eagle Project in southern Scotland. “This allowed investigators to quickly recover the body before weather and wild scavengers destroyed any evidence.”

Without the team’s oversight and ability to respond quickly, Barlow said they may never have known what led to Sparky’s death.

“Gathering knowledge from the satellite tags is vital to ensuring the continued protection of golden eagles, and further reinforces the importance of our work to monitor golden eagles in southern Scotland,” Barlow added.