First White-Tailed Eagle In 240 Years Born In England

Tuesday, 18 July 2023 11:26

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

In a landmark moment for conservationists, the first white-tailed eagle for over 240 years has fledged from a nest in the wild in England.

The chick is the first successful breeding attempt of the white-tailed eagles released by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation’s project to return this lost species to England.

In 2019, a landmark project saw Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation release the first six white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight, returning them to our skies after an absence of more than 240 years.

The project, which concludes next year, aims to restore these lost birds to the English landscape by releasing up to 60 birds.

White-tailed eagles are Britain’s largest birds of prey with a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters and were once widespread across England.

Forestry England (c)

Human persecution caused their extinction with the last pair breeding in southern England in 1780. In 2019, Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation began a reintroduction programme to restore these iconic birds to the English landscape.

Two of the birds released by the project in 2020 – female G405, originally translocated from the Outer Hebrides and male G471, from north-west Sutherland – reared the male chick earlier this summer.

The location of the nest, on private land with no public access, is not being disclosed for the welfare of the birds and to prevent any disturbance to them or the landowner either this year or if the birds return to breed at the same location.

The chick was ringed and fitted with a satellite tag by licensed ornithologists from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation enabling the project team to track this historic bird’s daily progress through its life.

Roy Dennis MBE, Founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, said:

“This is a very special moment for everyone who has worked on, supported and followed this ground-breaking project.

"Restoring a breeding population in southern England, where the species was once widespread, has been our ultimate goal.

"Many thought it was impossible but we knew food for eagles - fresh and salt water fish, cuttlefish, rabbits, hares and wild birds - was plentiful.

"We still have a long way to go, but the feeling of seeing the first pair reach this stage is truly incredible.”

The birds are one of three territorial pairs that have now become established in southern England and the first to breed.

Steve Egerton-Read, White-Tailed Eagle Project Officer for Forestry England, said:

"At only three years old, it is remarkable that the pair have successfully bred, with most white-tailed eagles not attempting to do so until they are at least four or five.

“It is really hard to put into words just what an incredible moment this is for the return of these iconic birds to England.

"We are hopeful one of the other pairs that has become established in southern England will choose to nest in a location that we can share with the public in future years.”

To date, 25 white-tailed eagles have been released by the reintroduction project with 16 still surviving.

A further release of young white-tailed eagles is planned for later this summer from the project team’s base on the Isle of Wight.

The reintroduction of white-tailed eagles is conducted under licence from Natural England, the Government’s wildlife licensing authority.

All of the young birds involved in the project are collected under a NatureScot licence from the wild in Scotland and brought to the Island.

First White-Tailed Eagle In 240 Years Born In England

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