Golden Eagle’s Death Linked to Wind Turbine Collision in Scotland

Investigation confirms that a satellite-tagged eagle named Sparky suffered fatal injuries typical of a turbine strike, raising concerns about bird safety near wind farms.

Sparky, a three-year-old golden eagle fledged by the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, was found dead near a wind turbine in Dumfries and Galloway in August 2024.
Satellite tracking alerted conservationists to the incident, enabling swift recovery of the bird's body for investigation before evidence could be compromised.
The Veterinary Investigation Centre determined Sparky's injuries were consistent with a wind turbine collision, marking the first recorded case of its kind in southern Scotland.
The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project emphasizes the need for enhanced measures to mitigate risks to endangered birds at current and future wind farm sites.
Since its inception in 2017, the project has successfully increased the golden eagle population in southern Scotland to its highest level in centuries, despite challenges like this incident.