Petitioner: Stuart Housden OBE on behalf of RSPB Scotland
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
06 December 2013
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to formally declare the Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, as the national bird of Scotland. This could be done either through legislation, or through a parliamentary motion.
It’s hailed as an icon of wild Scotland, used on company logos, place names and ancient burial sites, and now a new campaign is aiming to see the golden eagle named as the country’s national bird.
There are currently just 431 pairs of Golden Eagles in the whole of Scotland. Owing to centuries of persecution, this most charismatic of birds has been almost entirely confined to the more remote areas of the country, such as the mountains and glens of the west coast and on the western isles, with numbers held at artificially low levels and many territories vacant.
RSPB Scotland, backed by wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan, has submitted a petition urging ministers to formally designate the species as a national symbol, placing it alongside the lion rampant, saltire and Scottish thistle and emblems of the country.