Poison site eagle chick thrives

The poisoning sparked fears for golden eagles in the region

A golden eagle chick has successfully fledged near the site of a bird poisoning in the Scottish Borders.

The killing of one half of the only breeding pair of golden eagles in the region last year sparked fears for the future of the species in the area.

However, earlier this summer the surviving male bird found another mate and managed to breed successfully.

A chick hatched in Peeblesshire in June and wildlife experts confirmed it had now taken flight from its nest.

The golden eagle killing last year sparked outrage on an international falconry website which offered a reward to find the culprit.

There were fears the death of the 10-year-old female bird would bring to an end the presence of the birds in the Borders.

However, the surviving male managed to breed again.

'Safe and well'

Bob Elliot, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, confirmed the young bird was doing well.

"The male and the new breeding female successfully raised a chick and it will be flying around not too far away," he said.

"This is the only breeding pair of golden eagles in the Scottish Borders so we are delighted the chick survived.

"There's always a worry that something could go wrong but it is safe and it is well."

Police are still investigating last August's poisoning of the female eagle near Peebles.