A pathological investigation, which was made possible thanks to the close surveillance and expertise of a pioneering conservation initiative that has boosted a previously low golden eagle population to record numbers, has today (Monday 25 November 2024) confirmed that a locally fledged golden eagle named Sparky has been killed by a wind turbine in Galloway.

It is with great sadness that we need to report that Thistle H03, named by Scouting Scotland, has died after attack by another golden eagle or eagles. Thistle was sadly found dead in June and a series of tests were carried out as part of a postmortem.

The pioneering South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has been unveiled as one of 30 Game Changing Moments across the UK in an exhibition celebrating the National Lottery’s 30th birthday, which was unveiled this morning at The National Portrait Gallery in London and online.

Well, that's it for another year!