Sea Eagles v crofters' lambs....

[solus]

On the BBC News Scotland (Highlands and Islands) website today:
BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Lamb radio tags 'put off' eagles

A crofters' leader has suggested that radio tags strapped to lambs to help monitor potential predatory activity by sea eagles had warded off the birds.

It is understood none of the 58 lambs tagged for a Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)-led project were taken by the UK's biggest raptor.

The scheme was run following crofters' claims that sea eagles were preying on the young animals.

But Willie Fraser said the large tags may have served as a deterrent.

The chairman of the Gairloch branch of the Scottish Crofting Foundation, said lambs that had not been tagged had been found dead in a sea eagle's nest in Melvaig.

Mr Fraser said: "We are under no illusions that eagles are taking lambs.

"The tags themselves were huge big tags strapped to the backs of lambs. I don't think there is anyway an eagle would come near a lamb like that."

Once you've got an idea fixed, don't let the facts change anything....

"Huge big tags"??? Why would the poor ickle lamblets have to carry round giant antique radio tags when small birds can be fitted with perfectly efficient teeny ones? Sorry, I (still) believe most lambs that died would expire as a result of falling over cliffs, dog attacks, generally being weak, sickly animals at birth etc. An Eagle (or any other predator) may well take an already dead creature but as for carrying off live, healthy lambs from close by the udder of an angry, attentive mother ewe.....????? Still, nothing like having a blame-hound in order to obtain loads compensation, is there?