Moorland raptors are doing well in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership area of the Cairngorms National Park.

The most recent figures show a stable population of at least 12 breeding pairs of golden eagles in 2023, with one or more pairs recorded on every estate in the partnership area. Three pairs successfully hatched young in 2023, each rearing twins.

Hatching success throughout the wider north-east Scotland golden eagle population was lower than usual in 2023, with natural causes and poor weather early in the season contributing to this. However, good food availability, together with fine weather for hunting by provisioning adults later in the spring, led to a record number of twin chicks fledging.