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It is fair to say that the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and the White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) have always commanded a special interest for British field ornithologists. The majesty of these splendid birds, plus the romance of their habitat ensure this.
This work from Peregrine Books offers not only information on the current status of both species, with chapters on identification, the eyrie, eggs, persecution etc., but also delves into historical literature now virtually unobtainable, including material from such authors as John Wolley (Ootheca Wolleyana), Robert Gray (Birds of the West of Scotland) and several others.
lt is recognised, of course, that in times past the eggs of the Golden Eagle were eagerly sought by oologists and a chapter is devoted to some of their activities from diaries which describe these annual quests to the remote glens of Scotland. Much early knowledge of the breeding of the Golden Eagle derived from the fieldwork of these hardy enthusiasts. The progress of re-establishing the Sea Eagle as a Scottish resident is also charted in some detail.
An all-embracing work of this nature would be guilty of omission if it ignored precise infomation on places where eagles may be seen in the wild. Indeed, the book, by providing such data, will help to ensure that unintentional disturbancewill be minimalised and facilitate studying eagles from a safe distance, bearing in mind that both species fall within the provisions of Schedule l of current bird protection legislation, which is shown in some detail.
