Golden eagles are a magnificent sight in Britain, although not a common one. Heavily persecuted in the past, these birds are now gradually increasing in number with 400 breeding pairs thought to be in Scotland at present. Pairs mate for life, using just one nest site year after year. Wonderful aerial courtship displays are performed with plunging and looping flights, and although these birds are most often seen soaring high on thermals, they also practise the art of ambushing their quarry from near ground level.

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