Golden Eagle

Eryr euriad - Aqulia chrysaetos

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is part of the Accipitridae family which includes other diurnal raptors such as hawks, harriers, and buzzards. Otherwise known as ‘booted’ eagles the Golden eagle is the biggest species in the Aquila genus. Males weigh on average 3.7kg (8lb) and females weigh on average 5.2kg (11lb) - the same weight as a house cat! In the UK the average wingspan of a male is 2.0m (6ft) and 2.2m (7ft) for females.

A bird that inhabits open country and mountainous regions Wales is a great place to restore the Golden Eagle. Historically a native and widespread species Wales lost the Golden eagle in the 1850s and the last breeding pair bred in the remote mountains of Snowdonia.

Over 400 prey species have been recorded in the Golden eagles diet. Typical prey comprises small to medium-sized, ground-dwelling animals of around 1-2kg, roughly half the eagle’s own weight. Common prey items include Rabbits, Hares, Foxes, rats, deer fawns, Pheasants, Red grouse, and Corvids (e.g. Crows, Ravens, Jackdaws).

Golden eagle programme - Rhaglen eryr euraid

Project status:

Our Golden Eagle programme is still looking into the environmental and ecological feasibility of restoring Golden Eagles to Wales.

Project collaborations:

Raptor aid, Cardiff University, Aberystwyth University & University of Bristol.

Project sponsors:

British Birds of Prey Centre, Nature Spy

Project advisors:

Roy Dennis - Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Lorcan O’Toole - Golden Eagle Trust, Des Thompson & Cat Barlow - South Scotland Golden Eagle project.

Current Research:

Phillipa King [2023]. Prey availability and social attitudes of Golden Eagles within the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. Aberystwyth University. Master Project [ongoing].

Ed Drewitt [2023]. The diet of Welsh upland Peregrine Falcons in comparison to urban breeding pairs. The University of Bristol, Ph.D. Project [Ongoing].

Project Research:

Sam Langdon (2019). Spatial distribution and habitat association of Welsh Red Kite, Osprey and lowland Peregrine Falcon populations. Using indicator species to inform a reintroduction. Cardiff University, Master Thesis [unpublished].

Joe Marie Jones (2019). Spatial distribution and habitat association of Welsh Common Buzzards, Hen Harriers and Upland Peregrine Falcon populations. Using indicator species to inform a reintroduction. Cardiff University, Master Thesis [unpublished].

Matthew Collins (2020). An assessment of raptor distribution and habitat association with modern day land uses in Wales. Cardiff University, Master Thesis [unpublished].

Sophie-lee Williams, Sarah Perkins, Roy Dennis, James Byrne & Robert Thomas (2020). An evidence-based assessment of the past distribution of Golden and White-tailed Eagles across Wales. Conservation Science 2(8). Available here.

Tabitha Gibbons (2021). Welsh climate implications for Golden Eagle Reintroduction. Cardiff University, Master Thesis [unpublished].

Sophie-lee Williams [2021]. The Eagle Reintroduction Wales (ERW) project: An assessment to restore our native-lost eagles. Cardiff University, PhD Thesis. Available here.

Peregrine Cams

As part of Golden Eagle feasibility assessments, understanding if the modern-day Welsh environment is still suitable to hold these birds is an important consideration. Since 2016, we have been assessing the environmental compatibility of Wales. One of the additional environmental variables taken into consideration to restore the Golden eagle is climate change.

Change in spring rainfall is a key consideration for Golden eagles, as an increase in May rainfall has been correlated to lower prey availability, less food provisioned to chicks, and higher chick mortality. Despite many parts of Wales being highly suitable for the golden eagle, if the climate is not compatible then nest productivity may be low and species breeding will not be viable to keep the population sustainable over time. But how do we know if increasing spring rainfall will affect Golden eagles, you ask?

Well … we can use an ecologically similar species of course! – The peregrine falcon is a perfect study model for an upland breeding bird of prey, like a golden eagle. Just as the nesting season gets underway each spring, Browning Recon Force Advantage camera traps are installed at peregrine sites in upland Wales by licensed raptor biologist Jimmi Hill from Rator Aid.

Learn more