Abstract
Resident Golden Eagle ranging behaviour was monitored over 776 observation hours before and after construction of a windfarm in Argyll, western Scotland between 1997 and 2004. Overall size of the eagle range that was potentially affected by the windfarm (for male, female and both eagles) was similar before and after construction. Eagles appeared to change their ranging to avoid the windfarm site. Once built the windfarm was over flown mostly when other eagles intruded on the territory. An area of plantation forestry was felled with the aim of mitigating the potential loss of foraging habitat to the windfarm, and drawing eagles away from the windfarm thereby reducing collision risk. Eagles were seen in the tree cleared area 3 times more often after felling than before felling, and the shift in ranging was away from the windfarm and in the direction of the felled area. These findings are from a single pair and should be used cautiously when applied to other, similar, situations. However, they are an important first step in understanding the likely effects of windfarms on eagles.