The SRMS is mourning the loss of a true gentleman and a devoted raptor conservationist. Patrick Stirling-Aird passed away peacefully at home  on the 8th November.

Patrick was a leading light for raptor conservation. He was a retired solicitor who dealt mainly with land use and management issues. His raptor knowledge and experience were immense. He monitored Golden Eagles, Peregrines and Ravens for  over 40 years,  always generous with advice and with a marvellously dry sense of humour.

His attention to detail was impeccable always balancing diplomacy and being a true gentleman, with the assertiveness and deep resilience required for effective raptor conservation.

Working with him was a pleasure. He was a colossus in
raptor conservation to whom we owe a huge debt.

He was Secretary of of the Scottish Raptor Study Group and a former Chair of its Central Scotland branch.  He represented the Scottish Raptor Study Group on a range of government initiatives including Scotland’s Moorland Forum and the PAW Scotland Raptor Group.  He also served on the UK Government’s Raptor Working Group, the British Trust for Ornithology’s Research and Surveys Committee, the Scottish Wildlife Trust Council and the RSPB’s Committee for Scotland.