Ringing Date: 28th June 2010
Nest Location: RSPB Abernethy Nature Reserve
BTO Ring Number: GS28893
Satellite Radio Number: 51890
Sex: Female
Measurements: Wing 285mm; Tail 150mm
Weight: 1076g
To view details of Vega’s recent movements click on the following link: VEGA 2012
General
Vega was a female peregrine chick ringed on 28th June 2010 on the RSPB Abernethy Nature Reserve in Strathspey, Highland. She was one of a brood of four young – two males and two females. We went to the eyrie at 8.30am and I was accompanied by RSPB staff, Desmond Dugan, Bob Moncrieff and Gareth Marshall. Gareth climbed up to eyrie and lowered the young in a bag to the bottom of the cliff where we ringed her and fitted the satellite transmitter. She was the older female chick.
Vega was satellite tagged as part of the RaptorTrack programme. This is a partnership programme between the Highland Foundation for Wildlife, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB and private estates within the park, and has its own website: www.raptortrack.org.
Annual Movements
Vega left her nest area on the 2nd September. Over the next few months she roosted mainly in woods near Dulnain Bridge and visited Dava Moor and the Monadhliaths during the day but ranged widely and made several long flights to check out ancestral peregrine eyries. In December she moved her roost site to near Carrbridge but continued to fly up onto the Monadhliaths during the day.
In the Spring she started to range a little more widely and in March made an amazing flight of over 240km to Dundee and back! That month she also roosted away from her normal area for the first time, in the Upper Spey catchment at Melgarve. She continued to make long trips to visit old peregrine sites but returned most evenings to her roost site near Carrbridge. In late April she moved her roost site to north of Newtonmore but continued to visit the Monadhliaths during the day, spending a lot of time on Coignafearn Estate. Throughout the rest of the year she remained in the same general area, switching her roost sites between Newtonmore and Carrbridge several times but didn’t make any more long distance flights.
We have been amazed at how widely she has travelled at such a young age and, as one of the first satellite-tracked juvenile peregrines in the UK, Vega has provided unique insights into the ranging behaviour of young peregrines after fledging.
Movements and range of Vega in 2011
Movements and range of Vega in 2010
To view details of Vega’s movements click on the relevant link: VEGA 2012
Vega 2011 | Vega 2010
Reproductive History
Vega is not yet old enough to breed. If she survives, we would expect her to breed when she is at least two years old.
