This year has seen two landmark records for Scotland’s sea eagles:
- the highest number of breeding pairs
- more chicks successfully fledged that at any time in 150 years and in the reintroduction programme’s history.
Figures from the 2009 survey show there are now 46 territorial breeding pairs of the UK’s biggest raptor.This is an increase of two pairs since 2008 – with one new pair setting up a territory on Lewis and one in Lochaber.
It has also been the most successful year in terms of chicks produced, with 24 successful broods fledging a total of 36 chicks. Experts at RSPB Scotland also believe this number is higher than at any time in the past 150 years; and more than were fledged in the entire first ten years that sea eagles bred after their reintroduction. There are now over 200 individual sea eagles in Scotland.
Five of this year’s chicks have been fitted with satellite tags and several of these are starting to make exploratory flights away from the immediate nest site areas. The progress of two of these chicks on Mull can be followed via the RSPB’s Mull website.
Tourists and wildlife watchers now have their best ever chance of witnessing these spectacular and inspiring birds, often rudely referred to as ‘flying barn doors’ because of their huge 8-foot wingspan.
The birds help the Scottish economy too. Mull’s sea eagles have become a firmly established tourist magnet, pulling in thousands of wildlife enthusiasts who boost the island’s economy by up to £2m million annually, according to a recent economic survey.
The on-going monitoring of white-tailed eagles, as they are also known, is conducted by the Sea Eagle Project Team, which includes RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Forestry Commission Scotland.
Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the record breaking news saying: ‘A record-breaking year for sea eagles is wonderful news. Scotland is renowned for its spectacular wildlife and ‘flying barn doors’ are certainly spectacular. I myself was lucky enough to witness sea eagles in the wild while holidaying in Mull and I am very proud these magnificent birds have been so successfully brought back from the brink of extinction. Everyone involved should be congratulated on their achievements. Thanks to this reintroduction a little piece of Scotland is being restored to its former glory’.
Professor Colin Galbraith, Policy and Advice Director for Scottish Natural Heritage, and chair of the Sea Eagle Project Team, says: ‘This is important progress in re-establishing sea eagles across their historic range in Scotland and is the result of a huge effort by many people over the past 30 years. It shows what can be done to reinstate a key part of our natural heritage. It remains important, however, for the population, especially the newly-released birds in the east of the country, to be allowed to fully settle in and establish territories. It’s also important to thank the many land managers who have helped us achieve this result – without their help, this simply would not have been possible’.
Professor Jeremy Wilson, head of research for RSPB Scotland, says: ‘We are absolutely delighted that these great birds, which are rightly seen as icons of Scotland’s magnificent natural heritage, are continuing to go from strength to strength. We are now seeing a steady rise in the breeding population every year and this will grow further as the juveniles from the east coast reintroduction programme reach sexual maturity in the next couple of years. There are plenty of vacant territories available with natural wild prey species to support these birds. As they continue to spread around Scotland’s coast, this exciting spectacle will be made accessible to people throughout the country’.
Skye, Mull and the Western Isles remain as the core population area since the species were brought back from extinction by reintroduction programmes, first on the island of Rum from 1975 to 1985 and then on Wester Ross from 1993 to 1998. But they are now beginning significantly to expand this range. Breeding pairs have established territories up to 100 miles south from the original release sites and west onto the mainland in the Highland district of Lochaber.
The third phase of the programme to establish a population firmly and right across Scotland is now underway at a secret location in Fife. This is introducing chicks taken from nests in Norway to the east coast. Over the last three years, 44 chicks have been released in Fife at the beginning of August; and a further 20 young birds from Norway will be released each year for the next two or three years. The young birds are faring well. SNH and RSPB are confident that breeding pairs will establish themselves over the coming years.
Eventually, it is hoped that this population will mix with the west coast birds and set up territories right round the suitable coastal habitats of Scotland.
In Ireland a similar re-introduction project is underway in the Killarney area in a bid to right some of the wrongs perpetrated by their ancestors – and Natural England are considering plans to reintroduce the bird in England.
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