Glenfeshie Estate is a beautiful area of land in the western Cairngorms, centred around the headwaters of the River Feshie, extending to 17000 hectares and rising to over 1100 metres above sea level. It contains fine areas of old native woods of Scots pine, juniper and birch, heather moorlands and high mountains, as well as a braided river. It lies within the Cairngorms National Park, and parts of the estate are within the National Nature Reserve, and designated as European Natura 2000 sites for Special Protection Areas (golden eagle, capercaillie, dotterel & Scottish crossbill) and Special Areas of Conservation (Caledonian pine woods).

Glenfeshie was a typical Highland sporting estate from Victorian times, used for stalking red deer, shooting red grouse and with some salmon fishing. Red deer numbers had increased markedly since the middle of the 20th century and now the new owner, Anders Holch Povlsen, has embarked on a management policy based on ecological restoration and sustainability. This is carried out on the ground by Thomas MacDonell, the estate manager, and the estate stalkers and staff. Red deer numbers peaked at 2000 from 1992 to 2001, when a major reduction of deer was carried out, which has resulted in numbers dropping below 800 in 2008. This has resulted in excellent regeneration of native trees and shrubs, as well as marked improvements in the growth of heather, blaeberry, grasses and wild flowers. The progress is regularly monitored by scientists, who carry out repeat surveys and photographic recording in key areas. Red deer dung counts decreased by nearly 70% in important ecological areas, and this summer the main glen was showing real signs of ecological restoration. I was very impressed as I have known the glen for over 40 years and its degraded state used to distress me.

Glenfeshie used to be heavily over-grazed by red deer Ecological Regeneration after a reduction in red deer Sample plot - photographed in 2004 Same plot photographed in 2008 - showing juniper regeneration

Glenfeshie Estate have found the Golden Eagle study extremely interesting and this summer, with the estate's funding help, we intend to satellite track another of the young from this home range. We also hope to move into a new phase of the study. After following the late summer and early autumn use of the upper Feshie catchment by the young eagles, Alma in 2007 and Angus in 2008, we want to learn how their parents use their home range. Where are their favourite haunts? Where do they roost? What areas are most important to them when they are nesting? How far do they travel for food for their young? Which habitats are they using? It would be particularly interesting to try to correlate their use of the land with changes to the habitats and wildlife due to the ecological restoration programme.

After the breeding season, the estate staff will assist us in trying to catch at least one adult eagles in autumn or winter, well before the start of the next nesting season. If we are successful the results will be shown on this website. The Foundation is very grateful to Mr Povlsen and the estate for their encouragement and support.