Pheasant shooting helps in recovery of Danish eagles

An eagle recovery programme in Denmark has found that the practice of releasing pheasants for shooting has played a pivotal role in the breeding success of golden eagles. 

Bird of prey researcher and author Jan Tøttrup Nielsen has conducted investigations for Project Eagle into the food of the golden eagle. This means checking prey and food remains in and around raptor nests and at primary feeding grounds. 

His findings from the Hals Nørreskov national park in northern Denmark have shown that pheasants make up at least 70% of the golden eagle’s diets. Recordings from wildlife cameras have corroborated this data and 2024 has been the best breeding year for Danish golden eagle pairs since the beginning of their recovery. Eight territories have been confirmed occupied, six of which are inhabited by established breeding pairs that have successfully fledged a total of seven young. 

For around a century golden eagles were functionally regionally extinct in Denmark. However, they began breeding again in 1998 and the population continues to slowly increase. Since 1998 a total of 68 young eagles have fledged in Denmark. 

Hans Christophersen, a researcher for the Danish Ornithological Society who works on Project Eagle, said: “Project Eagle points out that Denmark’s golden eagles have a penchant for hunting pheasants, and most of the breeding pairs live in connection with breeding and releasing pheasants for hunting. 

“It requires tolerance on the part of hunters to compete with golden eagles for hunting prey, but it must be said that we experience great goodwill and openness on that front. Times are different today compared with when all birds of prey were hunted.” 

Morten Truelsen, chairman of the Danske Herregårdsjægere, a Danish hunting association, said: “We see birds of prey as part of the ecosystem, and more birds of prey on the terrain is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, which we would like to pass on to the next generation. 

“Just like in the other parts of society, our view of nature has developed, and we are constantly working to integrate the operation of hunting animals with the conservation of birds of prey,” he added. 

“We strive to find solutions that create a balance between the activities of our hunters and the natural behaviour of the golden eagle.”