Chris Monk
Well-known member
After my mass posting earlier I have at Andy Bright's suggestion decided to start a White-tailed Eagle thread to spare you all my scattered postings. Sorry about my going OTT. |:$|
-
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All things White-tailed Eagle (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chris Monk
- Start date
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Irish plan to introduce this species
White-tailed Eagles
Please find details of the Irish plan to introduce this species below:
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...LAND-EAGLES.xml
http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/ind...p?id=79045&pt=n
White-tailed Eagles
Please find details of the Irish plan to introduce this species below:
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...LAND-EAGLES.xml
http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/ind...p?id=79045&pt=n
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White-tailed Eagles & Wales
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagle return eyed May 4 2006
By Andrew Forgrave, Daily Post
THE world's fourth largest eagle could be set for a return to Wales.
Wildlife-lovers hope to re-introduce the White-Tailed Sea Eagle to Welsh coasts for the first time in centuries. If successful, the 8ft-winged bird - bigger than the Golden Eagle - is likely to become a major tourism draw as the signature animal of Wales' growing wildlife economy.
A group called Eryr M??r Cymru (Welsh Sea Eagles) has been set up and the project has the blessing of the Countryside Council for Wales: conservationists, falconers and academics met in Llanfairfechan yesterday to launch the scheme, aware they must first convince sceptics.
Farmers may be concerned about the safety of lambs while commercial fishermen could complain about the loss of fish stocks.
Prof Gareth Edwards-Jones, of Bangor University, said an established sea eagle colony would add a "wow factor" to Welsh wildlife tourism.
He said: "Farm unions and fishing groups from the Ll£n Peninsula were
invited to the meeting so we could discuss any concerns they might have.
"We are also talking to other conservation groups such as the RSPB, which may have concerns about the impact on other conservation species, such as the black grouse."
The re-introduction of the Golden Eagle was considered but studies concluded the Sea Eagle was a better bet as it would have good access to food supplies - fish, seabirds, small mammals and carrion.
If consensus is reached, Eryr Mor Cymru hopes to apply for £160,000 EU funding in the autumn and could start importing eaglets from Norway as early as next year, though 2008 remains more likely. Around 20 birds a year would be released over four years at two release sites in North West Wales. Several landowners have offered sites and these will be assessed this summer.
The group has enlisted as consultants world-reknowned eagle experts Dr Roy Dennis and Dr Mick Marquis, both of whom were involved in the re-introduction of the bird off the west coast of Scotland.
The Scottish project got underway on the island of Rum in 1975 with 82 birds brought under licence from Norway by the RAF.
The first breeding success was recorded in 1985. A further 58 young Norwegian eagles were released onto the Scottish mainland and the first of these began to breed in 1998.
Five have been killed, two by poison, and a Welsh re-introduction project would require long-term surveillance. Naturally gregarious, the birds may eventually nest in seaside towns.
Last month the RSPB estimated Mull's famous sea eagles generated £1.45m-£1.69m a year for the island's economy.
The arrival of ospreys to Glaslyn, Porthmadog, and the success of red kite breeding projects in Mid Wales have already brought tourism benefits for farmers.
Tales of a magical predator
SEA eagle plumage is mainly brown, though the bird's eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow, giving the poetic Gaelic name Iolairesuilnagreine ("the eagle with the sunlit eye").
Shetlanders believed it had magical abilities as fish apparently offered themselves belly-up in submission. Fishermen smeared their own baits with sea eagle fat to improve catches.
In reality sea eagles are quick to spot spent salmon on spawning grounds, or take disabled fish that are forced to the surface in deep tidal streams.
Although sea eagles catch live prey, they often steal from predators or follow fishing vessels for scraps. They also scavenge for carrion, particularly in winter: the fallen stock burial ban has set back conservation efforts.
Sheep farming, hunting, persecution and taxidermy wiped out indigenous British populations. A pair on the Isle of Man in 1818 was the last south of Scotland: the last UK bird, an albino, was shot in 1918.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagle return eyed May 4 2006
By Andrew Forgrave, Daily Post
THE world's fourth largest eagle could be set for a return to Wales.
Wildlife-lovers hope to re-introduce the White-Tailed Sea Eagle to Welsh coasts for the first time in centuries. If successful, the 8ft-winged bird - bigger than the Golden Eagle - is likely to become a major tourism draw as the signature animal of Wales' growing wildlife economy.
A group called Eryr M??r Cymru (Welsh Sea Eagles) has been set up and the project has the blessing of the Countryside Council for Wales: conservationists, falconers and academics met in Llanfairfechan yesterday to launch the scheme, aware they must first convince sceptics.
Farmers may be concerned about the safety of lambs while commercial fishermen could complain about the loss of fish stocks.
Prof Gareth Edwards-Jones, of Bangor University, said an established sea eagle colony would add a "wow factor" to Welsh wildlife tourism.
He said: "Farm unions and fishing groups from the Ll£n Peninsula were
invited to the meeting so we could discuss any concerns they might have.
"We are also talking to other conservation groups such as the RSPB, which may have concerns about the impact on other conservation species, such as the black grouse."
The re-introduction of the Golden Eagle was considered but studies concluded the Sea Eagle was a better bet as it would have good access to food supplies - fish, seabirds, small mammals and carrion.
If consensus is reached, Eryr Mor Cymru hopes to apply for £160,000 EU funding in the autumn and could start importing eaglets from Norway as early as next year, though 2008 remains more likely. Around 20 birds a year would be released over four years at two release sites in North West Wales. Several landowners have offered sites and these will be assessed this summer.
The group has enlisted as consultants world-reknowned eagle experts Dr Roy Dennis and Dr Mick Marquis, both of whom were involved in the re-introduction of the bird off the west coast of Scotland.
The Scottish project got underway on the island of Rum in 1975 with 82 birds brought under licence from Norway by the RAF.
The first breeding success was recorded in 1985. A further 58 young Norwegian eagles were released onto the Scottish mainland and the first of these began to breed in 1998.
Five have been killed, two by poison, and a Welsh re-introduction project would require long-term surveillance. Naturally gregarious, the birds may eventually nest in seaside towns.
Last month the RSPB estimated Mull's famous sea eagles generated £1.45m-£1.69m a year for the island's economy.
The arrival of ospreys to Glaslyn, Porthmadog, and the success of red kite breeding projects in Mid Wales have already brought tourism benefits for farmers.
Tales of a magical predator
SEA eagle plumage is mainly brown, though the bird's eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow, giving the poetic Gaelic name Iolairesuilnagreine ("the eagle with the sunlit eye").
Shetlanders believed it had magical abilities as fish apparently offered themselves belly-up in submission. Fishermen smeared their own baits with sea eagle fat to improve catches.
In reality sea eagles are quick to spot spent salmon on spawning grounds, or take disabled fish that are forced to the surface in deep tidal streams.
Although sea eagles catch live prey, they often steal from predators or follow fishing vessels for scraps. They also scavenge for carrion, particularly in winter: the fallen stock burial ban has set back conservation efforts.
Sheep farming, hunting, persecution and taxidermy wiped out indigenous British populations. A pair on the Isle of Man in 1818 was the last south of Scotland: the last UK bird, an albino, was shot in 1918.
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White tailed Eagle reintroduction schemes in the UK
White tailed Eagle reintroduction schemes in the UK
From The Independent web site:
The Eagle Flies Again
Shot out of our skies, the massive sea eagle is making a spectacular
comeback - and it could soon be seen in a harbour near you. Peter Marren
reports
Published: 22 June 2006
Imagine a great bird the size of a tall bookcase casting shadows as it soars
over the marshes. Better still, think of it following your boat, like a
gannet, its long, banana-yellow bill casting this way and that as it scans
the ocean for fishy titbits. Or perhaps you see it perched on a rock by the
harbour with outstretched wings, rather like one of the copper liver birds
overlooking Liverpool's waterfront. Could this be the highlight of a
wildlife tour of tropical Africa or the Amazon? No, it is a possible glimpse
of East Anglia a few years from now. It could even be a scene from the
Thames Gateway.
The bird is the sea eagle, the fourth-largest eagle in the world and the
biggest bird of prey in northern Europe. Its story has been one of the
unlikeliest conservation successes of recent times. Pushed to extinction in
Britain by sheep farmers and sporting interests in the early years of the
20th century, the return of the sea eagle became a conservation sensation
three generations later.
Young birds taken from their nests in Norway were reared and then released
into the wild. There are now some 33 breeding pairs of the great bird, all
of them in Scotland. And their number is steadily increasing at 12 per cent
a year, a sign that the population is already "self-sustaining". In other
words, barring some unforeseen catastrophe, the sea eagle is back and here
to stay.
Here to stay but, for most of us, a long distance away. In much of the
country, it is quicker and cheaper to fly to Majorca than make the journey
to sea eagle country on Scotland's remote north-west coast. But there are
plans to reintroduce the eagle to more populous parts of Britain. Last
December, English Nature even approved a scheme to release them in East
Anglia, where the Suffolk coast has been earmarked as the most
eagle-friendly area. There are similar plans to rear and release sea eagles
in lowland Scotland and in north Wales. The East Anglian project may begin
as early as next year.
Has the conservation world gone eagle-crazy? Can you imagine the world's
fourth-largest eagle making a living over the rooftops of Ipswich? Or
gliding along the Menai Straits, fixing Brunel's railway bridge with its
glassy yellow stare? Well, yes, say the eagle's human promoters; believe it
or not, they can.
This is not the shy, aloof golden eagle, forever destined to flee from
ever-encroaching human habitation. The sea eagle gets on with people quite
well - that is, as long as we are not persecuting them. In other parts of
the world, they hang around fishing harbours and nest close to villages. In
behaviour, sea eagles are more like their close relative, the American bald
eagle (the world's third-largest eagle). This American icon routinely nests
on the outskirts of major cities, like Vancouver, even, on occasion, in big
trees in parks and gardens.
Professor Ian Newton, a world authority on birds of prey, points out that
sea eagles could once be found all around the British coast. "Many parts of
the coast still present suitable habitats for these magnificent birds, and,
if undisturbed, they could nest in fairly close proximity to people. We can
expect them to build their nests in trees and cliffs and to hunt mainly over
the shallower estuaries and inland reservoirs."
Often thought of as the most sterile agricultural plain in Britain, East
Anglia in fact holds a plentiful year-round food supply for sea eagles. The
marshes and muddy estuaries of Suffolk and Essex are well-stocked with
waterfowl and fish, while rabbits are frequent along the drier parts of the
coast.
Moreover, the eagle can take its pick of inland lakes, from the Broads to
the big reservoirs of the East Midlands; a hundred-mile round flight is
nothing to a sea eagle. In Scotland they regularly visit the headwaters of
highland rivers to feast on dead and dying salmon. They also appear from
nowhere like vultures after a ghillie has "gralloched" (that is,
disembowelled) a deer, before carrying it off the hill.
But how will the good folk of East Anglia take to the idea of an eight-foot,
flesh-eating bird swooping over their neighbourhood? If Scotland is any
guide, they will love it. The B&B establishments of Mull have never had it
so good. Eagle watching has become a thriving business in the isles,
generating around £1.5m a year. In England, the reintroduction project is
estimated to cost between £120,000 and £150,000 a year. So, in business
terms, this project could quickly turn a profit.
Sea eagle enthusiasts also point to the popularity of reintroduced red kites
and ospreys. And if you think ospreys are impressive, just wait until you
spot a sea eagle out on a fishing trip.
In truth, it's all about spectacle and spin. Sea eagles are among the
world's least-threatened large birds of prey. Their numbers have quadrupled
in Sweden, and they have recolonised Denmark. They are pleased with Poland
and having fun in Finland. Introducing them to Suffolk isn't going to make
much difference to sea eagle conservation. It is doing very nicely on its
own, thank you very much.
But, as English Nature recognises, there's more to this than meets the eye.
Messing around with sea eagles, says English Nature, "represents a major
opportunity to lead a high profile 'flagship species' project that will
highlight the organisation at the forefront of a major biodiversity delivery
initiative." In other words, sea eagles get the column inches denied to
smaller fry. They star in Springwatch and attract crowds of admirers. They
"deliver benefits to people and nature", say English Nature.
And that is what 21st-century style, ultra-democratic nature conservation
has to be about. Government-funded heritage bodies are terrified at being
seen to be élitist and remote from popular expectations. There's nothing
that links people and nature better than a big fierce bird, especially one
that is unlikely to cause much serious concern to farmers and game
interests.
And there's nothing like an eagle to sum up what it means to be wild and
free. Perhaps people will feel soon be feeling a little wilder and freer
themselves as they wander the muddy banks of Essex and a vast bird floats by
with a flicker of its barn-door wings. Modern Britain may sometimes feel
like a land of suburbs and grain prairies. But if the world's fourth-largest
eagle can make itself at home here, then may be our environment can't be all
that bad.
The giant of the skies
* A very big bird
Weighing as much as a full-grown swan and with a wingspan of eight feet,
this is a most impressive bird - especially from a few feet away as it
follows your boat in the expectation of fishy hand-outs.
* A poetic name
Scottish Gaelic speakers called it Iolaire suil na Greine, "the eagle with
the sunlit eye".
* Distinguishing features
Heavy, vulture-like wings. Massive yellow bill and matching eyes. Tail
trimmed with white on mature birds. In breeding season it can be noisy,
uttering dog-like yelps and harsh screeches.
* Numbers
The European population is about 6,000 pairs, mostly in Scandinavia and
Russia. Norway has the most with about 2,000 pairs. In the remote past,
Britain may have had almost as many.
* What they eat
A lot of things. Sea eagles are fond of fish, alive or dead. They will also
catch and eat waterfowl, including cormorants, gulls and ducks, and steal
anything they fancy from other birds. They like eating rabbits, and they
love carrion. Also lambs, though usually sick or dead ones.
* Where to see them now
Sea-eagle spotting is a major attraction for visitors to the isle of Mull.
Mid-morning is a good time to catch a glimpse. A customised hide run by the
RSPB (bookings can be made by calling 01688 302 038) and three wildlife tour
operators on the island improve your chance of a good view.
* The vision
"Imagine a future when eagles soar again over the chalk cliffs or hunt for
waterfowl over marshes" - Roy Dennis, pioneer of the sea eagle
reintroduction project.
White tailed Eagle reintroduction schemes in the UK
From The Independent web site:
The Eagle Flies Again
Shot out of our skies, the massive sea eagle is making a spectacular
comeback - and it could soon be seen in a harbour near you. Peter Marren
reports
Published: 22 June 2006
Imagine a great bird the size of a tall bookcase casting shadows as it soars
over the marshes. Better still, think of it following your boat, like a
gannet, its long, banana-yellow bill casting this way and that as it scans
the ocean for fishy titbits. Or perhaps you see it perched on a rock by the
harbour with outstretched wings, rather like one of the copper liver birds
overlooking Liverpool's waterfront. Could this be the highlight of a
wildlife tour of tropical Africa or the Amazon? No, it is a possible glimpse
of East Anglia a few years from now. It could even be a scene from the
Thames Gateway.
The bird is the sea eagle, the fourth-largest eagle in the world and the
biggest bird of prey in northern Europe. Its story has been one of the
unlikeliest conservation successes of recent times. Pushed to extinction in
Britain by sheep farmers and sporting interests in the early years of the
20th century, the return of the sea eagle became a conservation sensation
three generations later.
Young birds taken from their nests in Norway were reared and then released
into the wild. There are now some 33 breeding pairs of the great bird, all
of them in Scotland. And their number is steadily increasing at 12 per cent
a year, a sign that the population is already "self-sustaining". In other
words, barring some unforeseen catastrophe, the sea eagle is back and here
to stay.
Here to stay but, for most of us, a long distance away. In much of the
country, it is quicker and cheaper to fly to Majorca than make the journey
to sea eagle country on Scotland's remote north-west coast. But there are
plans to reintroduce the eagle to more populous parts of Britain. Last
December, English Nature even approved a scheme to release them in East
Anglia, where the Suffolk coast has been earmarked as the most
eagle-friendly area. There are similar plans to rear and release sea eagles
in lowland Scotland and in north Wales. The East Anglian project may begin
as early as next year.
Has the conservation world gone eagle-crazy? Can you imagine the world's
fourth-largest eagle making a living over the rooftops of Ipswich? Or
gliding along the Menai Straits, fixing Brunel's railway bridge with its
glassy yellow stare? Well, yes, say the eagle's human promoters; believe it
or not, they can.
This is not the shy, aloof golden eagle, forever destined to flee from
ever-encroaching human habitation. The sea eagle gets on with people quite
well - that is, as long as we are not persecuting them. In other parts of
the world, they hang around fishing harbours and nest close to villages. In
behaviour, sea eagles are more like their close relative, the American bald
eagle (the world's third-largest eagle). This American icon routinely nests
on the outskirts of major cities, like Vancouver, even, on occasion, in big
trees in parks and gardens.
Professor Ian Newton, a world authority on birds of prey, points out that
sea eagles could once be found all around the British coast. "Many parts of
the coast still present suitable habitats for these magnificent birds, and,
if undisturbed, they could nest in fairly close proximity to people. We can
expect them to build their nests in trees and cliffs and to hunt mainly over
the shallower estuaries and inland reservoirs."
Often thought of as the most sterile agricultural plain in Britain, East
Anglia in fact holds a plentiful year-round food supply for sea eagles. The
marshes and muddy estuaries of Suffolk and Essex are well-stocked with
waterfowl and fish, while rabbits are frequent along the drier parts of the
coast.
Moreover, the eagle can take its pick of inland lakes, from the Broads to
the big reservoirs of the East Midlands; a hundred-mile round flight is
nothing to a sea eagle. In Scotland they regularly visit the headwaters of
highland rivers to feast on dead and dying salmon. They also appear from
nowhere like vultures after a ghillie has "gralloched" (that is,
disembowelled) a deer, before carrying it off the hill.
But how will the good folk of East Anglia take to the idea of an eight-foot,
flesh-eating bird swooping over their neighbourhood? If Scotland is any
guide, they will love it. The B&B establishments of Mull have never had it
so good. Eagle watching has become a thriving business in the isles,
generating around £1.5m a year. In England, the reintroduction project is
estimated to cost between £120,000 and £150,000 a year. So, in business
terms, this project could quickly turn a profit.
Sea eagle enthusiasts also point to the popularity of reintroduced red kites
and ospreys. And if you think ospreys are impressive, just wait until you
spot a sea eagle out on a fishing trip.
In truth, it's all about spectacle and spin. Sea eagles are among the
world's least-threatened large birds of prey. Their numbers have quadrupled
in Sweden, and they have recolonised Denmark. They are pleased with Poland
and having fun in Finland. Introducing them to Suffolk isn't going to make
much difference to sea eagle conservation. It is doing very nicely on its
own, thank you very much.
But, as English Nature recognises, there's more to this than meets the eye.
Messing around with sea eagles, says English Nature, "represents a major
opportunity to lead a high profile 'flagship species' project that will
highlight the organisation at the forefront of a major biodiversity delivery
initiative." In other words, sea eagles get the column inches denied to
smaller fry. They star in Springwatch and attract crowds of admirers. They
"deliver benefits to people and nature", say English Nature.
And that is what 21st-century style, ultra-democratic nature conservation
has to be about. Government-funded heritage bodies are terrified at being
seen to be élitist and remote from popular expectations. There's nothing
that links people and nature better than a big fierce bird, especially one
that is unlikely to cause much serious concern to farmers and game
interests.
And there's nothing like an eagle to sum up what it means to be wild and
free. Perhaps people will feel soon be feeling a little wilder and freer
themselves as they wander the muddy banks of Essex and a vast bird floats by
with a flicker of its barn-door wings. Modern Britain may sometimes feel
like a land of suburbs and grain prairies. But if the world's fourth-largest
eagle can make itself at home here, then may be our environment can't be all
that bad.
The giant of the skies
* A very big bird
Weighing as much as a full-grown swan and with a wingspan of eight feet,
this is a most impressive bird - especially from a few feet away as it
follows your boat in the expectation of fishy hand-outs.
* A poetic name
Scottish Gaelic speakers called it Iolaire suil na Greine, "the eagle with
the sunlit eye".
* Distinguishing features
Heavy, vulture-like wings. Massive yellow bill and matching eyes. Tail
trimmed with white on mature birds. In breeding season it can be noisy,
uttering dog-like yelps and harsh screeches.
* Numbers
The European population is about 6,000 pairs, mostly in Scandinavia and
Russia. Norway has the most with about 2,000 pairs. In the remote past,
Britain may have had almost as many.
* What they eat
A lot of things. Sea eagles are fond of fish, alive or dead. They will also
catch and eat waterfowl, including cormorants, gulls and ducks, and steal
anything they fancy from other birds. They like eating rabbits, and they
love carrion. Also lambs, though usually sick or dead ones.
* Where to see them now
Sea-eagle spotting is a major attraction for visitors to the isle of Mull.
Mid-morning is a good time to catch a glimpse. A customised hide run by the
RSPB (bookings can be made by calling 01688 302 038) and three wildlife tour
operators on the island improve your chance of a good view.
* The vision
"Imagine a future when eagles soar again over the chalk cliffs or hunt for
waterfowl over marshes" - Roy Dennis, pioneer of the sea eagle
reintroduction project.
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Possible White tailed Eagle reintroduction schemes on the east coast of
Scotland
From The Scotsman web site 8/7/2006:
http://living.scotsman.com/travel.cfm?id=976672006
Hide and seek
BY KATH GOURLAY
Getting up close and personal with a white tailed eagle, also called a sea
eagle, is an awesome experience. With an average wingspan of 244cm - that's
nearly 8ft - they've been dubbed "flying barn doors" by the bird watching
fraternity, and at the world's only live and direct viewing site in Mull,
visitors can appreciate first hand the sheer size, power and beauty of these
massive raptors.
A bird of prey that size has no natural predators to worry about, but human
activity involving shotguns, poison and egg-stealing, collectively saw off
the last of Britain's native sea eagles around a century ago. The last
recorded native white tailed eagle was shot in Shetland in 1917, and to add
insult to injury, it was a rare albino.
The Northern Isles don't have a good track record when it comes to this kind
of thing - the last Great Auk in Britain was killed on Orkney's Papa Westray
in the 19th century. A couple of decades later, hunters in Iceland finished
off the job completely by slaughtering and stuffing the world's last two
Great Auks for collectors.
Fortunately, sea eagles survived in areas like Scandinavia and a
reintroduction programme began in the mid 1970s, when imported Norwegian
birds were released along the west coast of Scotland.
Conservationists started off by giving Scotland's newly introduced sea
eagles dignified, geographically related names like Skye and Frisa. Three
generations on, they sport more down-to-earth monikers. The current chicks
are Haggis and Oatie, and last year's fledglings were dubbed Itchy and
Scratchy.
"Trust local schoolkids to tell it like it is," says David Sexton, Mull's
RSPB Officer, "It shows they were taking an interest in the chicks' habits.
They love coming out to the hide when the eggs are hatching and it was a
group from Dervaig Primary who named that pair."
Frisa, the mother of Itchy and Scratchy, was the offspring of one of the
original Norwegian birds and, more than a quarter of a century on, around 35
breeding pairs of white tailed eagle can be found around the Scottish west
coast.
"Last year, 24 chicks fledged from Scottish nests," says Sexton, "and this
summer we're hoping to celebrate the 200th hatching from the time of the
original donor stock. We're very proud of what we've achieved."
Plans are now afoot to extend the sea eagle's range to Scotland's east
coast, and Scottish Natural Heritage is investigating the Forth and Tay
estuaries as possible sites. According to an SNH spokeswoman, individual
locations have yet to be narrowed down, but discussions with the RSPB have
highlighted areas where the white tailed eagle is known to have thrived 120
to 130 years ago.
In the meantime, eagle watchers have to head west where, if they want to
view sea eagles the easy way, then the Mull hide is tailor made. For those
hoping to track down some of the other nesting sites, the term "coastal" in
bird books could be a bit misleading. According to Sexton, the white tailed
eagle has a somewhat wider ecological niche. He explains: "They are more
associated with the cliff face nesting, but you'll find eyries in spruce
trees in forestry regions near lakes and rivers, or even on the ground in
some instances."
It's safe to assume that conservationists know exactly where the nest sites
are, but for obvious reasons they're not advertising that knowledge. Local
people and police help conservationists run a tight ship when it comes to
protecting sea eagles.
In Mull, it's all been organised so well that a decision was made to feature
one particular eyrie near Loch Frisa as an eco-tourism project, opening it
to visitors, with a special viewing hide during the breeding season. The
eagle watch project is run by Mull and Iona Community Trust, together with
SNH, the RSPB and the Forestry Commission (who own the land round the
eyrie.)
The well-established breeding pair, Skye and Frisa, don't appear to be at
all bothered by their celebrity status (they featured in BBC's Springwatch
with Bill Oddie and Kate Humble) and seem to accept the click of cameras as
part of their everyday environment.
According to the RSPB, these feathered stars have their own 24-hour guard,
in the shape of Strathclyde Police, a dedicated band of island volunteers
and the latest surveillance technology to protect the nest from illegal egg
collectors.
And for those wanting a guaranteed sight of these magnificent birds, this
really is the only sure-fire way of going about it. You've got to get
organised to do it this year though. The site is open from mid April to mid
July, when the chicks are ready to begin trying out their early flying
skills. After that it closes.
"Haggis and Oatie are three months old at the beginning of July and are at
the fledging stage," says Sexton. "At that time they're very vulnerable, so
until they master the art of flying their privacy is strictly protected."
Keep an eye out for Itchy and Scratchy in the skies around their parental
home though. They're not mature enough to breed for another three years, and
were still seen hanging around mum earlier in the year. Scratchy's been
visiting nearby Skye, but came back home before dad chased both of them off
at the beginning of the new breeding season. Itchy seems to have taken
umbrage and hasn't been seen at all recently. It's tough, being an
adolescent.
. To book a trip to see the Mull sea eagles tel: 01688 302038 or visit
www.rspb.org.uk/birds/brilliant/sites/mull/
Scotland
From The Scotsman web site 8/7/2006:
http://living.scotsman.com/travel.cfm?id=976672006
Hide and seek
BY KATH GOURLAY
Getting up close and personal with a white tailed eagle, also called a sea
eagle, is an awesome experience. With an average wingspan of 244cm - that's
nearly 8ft - they've been dubbed "flying barn doors" by the bird watching
fraternity, and at the world's only live and direct viewing site in Mull,
visitors can appreciate first hand the sheer size, power and beauty of these
massive raptors.
A bird of prey that size has no natural predators to worry about, but human
activity involving shotguns, poison and egg-stealing, collectively saw off
the last of Britain's native sea eagles around a century ago. The last
recorded native white tailed eagle was shot in Shetland in 1917, and to add
insult to injury, it was a rare albino.
The Northern Isles don't have a good track record when it comes to this kind
of thing - the last Great Auk in Britain was killed on Orkney's Papa Westray
in the 19th century. A couple of decades later, hunters in Iceland finished
off the job completely by slaughtering and stuffing the world's last two
Great Auks for collectors.
Fortunately, sea eagles survived in areas like Scandinavia and a
reintroduction programme began in the mid 1970s, when imported Norwegian
birds were released along the west coast of Scotland.
Conservationists started off by giving Scotland's newly introduced sea
eagles dignified, geographically related names like Skye and Frisa. Three
generations on, they sport more down-to-earth monikers. The current chicks
are Haggis and Oatie, and last year's fledglings were dubbed Itchy and
Scratchy.
"Trust local schoolkids to tell it like it is," says David Sexton, Mull's
RSPB Officer, "It shows they were taking an interest in the chicks' habits.
They love coming out to the hide when the eggs are hatching and it was a
group from Dervaig Primary who named that pair."
Frisa, the mother of Itchy and Scratchy, was the offspring of one of the
original Norwegian birds and, more than a quarter of a century on, around 35
breeding pairs of white tailed eagle can be found around the Scottish west
coast.
"Last year, 24 chicks fledged from Scottish nests," says Sexton, "and this
summer we're hoping to celebrate the 200th hatching from the time of the
original donor stock. We're very proud of what we've achieved."
Plans are now afoot to extend the sea eagle's range to Scotland's east
coast, and Scottish Natural Heritage is investigating the Forth and Tay
estuaries as possible sites. According to an SNH spokeswoman, individual
locations have yet to be narrowed down, but discussions with the RSPB have
highlighted areas where the white tailed eagle is known to have thrived 120
to 130 years ago.
In the meantime, eagle watchers have to head west where, if they want to
view sea eagles the easy way, then the Mull hide is tailor made. For those
hoping to track down some of the other nesting sites, the term "coastal" in
bird books could be a bit misleading. According to Sexton, the white tailed
eagle has a somewhat wider ecological niche. He explains: "They are more
associated with the cliff face nesting, but you'll find eyries in spruce
trees in forestry regions near lakes and rivers, or even on the ground in
some instances."
It's safe to assume that conservationists know exactly where the nest sites
are, but for obvious reasons they're not advertising that knowledge. Local
people and police help conservationists run a tight ship when it comes to
protecting sea eagles.
In Mull, it's all been organised so well that a decision was made to feature
one particular eyrie near Loch Frisa as an eco-tourism project, opening it
to visitors, with a special viewing hide during the breeding season. The
eagle watch project is run by Mull and Iona Community Trust, together with
SNH, the RSPB and the Forestry Commission (who own the land round the
eyrie.)
The well-established breeding pair, Skye and Frisa, don't appear to be at
all bothered by their celebrity status (they featured in BBC's Springwatch
with Bill Oddie and Kate Humble) and seem to accept the click of cameras as
part of their everyday environment.
According to the RSPB, these feathered stars have their own 24-hour guard,
in the shape of Strathclyde Police, a dedicated band of island volunteers
and the latest surveillance technology to protect the nest from illegal egg
collectors.
And for those wanting a guaranteed sight of these magnificent birds, this
really is the only sure-fire way of going about it. You've got to get
organised to do it this year though. The site is open from mid April to mid
July, when the chicks are ready to begin trying out their early flying
skills. After that it closes.
"Haggis and Oatie are three months old at the beginning of July and are at
the fledging stage," says Sexton. "At that time they're very vulnerable, so
until they master the art of flying their privacy is strictly protected."
Keep an eye out for Itchy and Scratchy in the skies around their parental
home though. They're not mature enough to breed for another three years, and
were still seen hanging around mum earlier in the year. Scratchy's been
visiting nearby Skye, but came back home before dad chased both of them off
at the beginning of the new breeding season. Itchy seems to have taken
umbrage and hasn't been seen at all recently. It's tough, being an
adolescent.
. To book a trip to see the Mull sea eagles tel: 01688 302038 or visit
www.rspb.org.uk/birds/brilliant/sites/mull/
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Scotland's white-tailed eagles hit double century
After 21 years of tireless work by conservation groups, volunteers, the
police, local communities and landowners, the 200th wild-bred white-tailed
eagle chick has fledged on the Isle of Skye.
The chick, one of a brood of three - the first ever record of triplets on
Skye - took flight under the gaze of wildlife CCTV cameras at the RSPB
Scotland viewing area at the Aros Centre near Portree.
The successful hatching of the three chicks brought scenes of great
excitement to the Aros Centre, but the joy of seeing the 200th Scottish
white-tailed eagle chick fledge was tinged with sadness as the youngest of
the brood had become a casualty of the summer storms leading up to
mid-summer's day.
White-tailed eagles settled on Mull and Skye soon after their initial
reintroduction to Rum in 1975, with Skye's first pair attempting to breed in
1987. The island is now home to a quarter of Scotland's white-tailed eagle
population and is one of the best places in Scotland to see the birds in
their natural habitat.
The chick, one of a brood of three - the first ever record of triplets on
Skye - took flight under the gaze of wildlife CCTV cameras at the Aros
Centre near Portree.
Alison Maclennan, RSPB Scotland's Skye Officer said, 'This is a terrific
milestone for us to reach after so many years of hard work, and especially
exciting to mark it with the first ever sea eagle triplets to hatch on the
Isle of Skye.
'Perhaps what is most impressive is that it took us 25 years from the first
introduced birds to see a hundred wild-fledged sea eagles - and just the
last six years for that figure to double.'
Bringing birds closer
In recent years, the nest-cameras at the RSPB Scotland viewing room in the
Aros Centre and the RSPB/Forestry Commission Scotland live viewing hide on
Mull have given thousands of visitors a chance to experience one of Europe's
most impressive wildlife spectacles - with Scotland's First Minister
recently branding the eagles 'a fantastic asset' after seeing them for the
first time.
Emily Miscioscia, Public Affairs Manager for RSPB Scotland added, 'Our
viewing projects bring some amazing birds closer to people across the UK -
but none have been as popular as white-tailed eagle viewing on the west
coast, with many trips to see the eagles fully-booked days in advance.
'Our partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland at Loch Frisa continues
to provide an unrivalled opportunity in Britain and perhaps Europe to see a
real-life conservation success story in action.'
Much of the work to bring white-tailed eagles closer to the public has been
supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund via the Nadair Trust, an Argyll-wide
project promoting wildlife and environmental education. The Aros Centre
viewing project has also been supported by the Biodiversity Action Grants
Scheme.
The Aros Centre white-tailed eagle viewing room will remain open until
October, where visitors can see footage from the summer and hear the full
story of the eagles.
A report on the success of breeding sea eagles across Scotland in 2006 is
expected at the end of the summer, with early indications suggesting that
this may be the best year yet for fledging white-tailed eagles.
Source: RSPB Scotland
27 July 2006
After 21 years of tireless work by conservation groups, volunteers, the
police, local communities and landowners, the 200th wild-bred white-tailed
eagle chick has fledged on the Isle of Skye.
The chick, one of a brood of three - the first ever record of triplets on
Skye - took flight under the gaze of wildlife CCTV cameras at the RSPB
Scotland viewing area at the Aros Centre near Portree.
The successful hatching of the three chicks brought scenes of great
excitement to the Aros Centre, but the joy of seeing the 200th Scottish
white-tailed eagle chick fledge was tinged with sadness as the youngest of
the brood had become a casualty of the summer storms leading up to
mid-summer's day.
White-tailed eagles settled on Mull and Skye soon after their initial
reintroduction to Rum in 1975, with Skye's first pair attempting to breed in
1987. The island is now home to a quarter of Scotland's white-tailed eagle
population and is one of the best places in Scotland to see the birds in
their natural habitat.
The chick, one of a brood of three - the first ever record of triplets on
Skye - took flight under the gaze of wildlife CCTV cameras at the Aros
Centre near Portree.
Alison Maclennan, RSPB Scotland's Skye Officer said, 'This is a terrific
milestone for us to reach after so many years of hard work, and especially
exciting to mark it with the first ever sea eagle triplets to hatch on the
Isle of Skye.
'Perhaps what is most impressive is that it took us 25 years from the first
introduced birds to see a hundred wild-fledged sea eagles - and just the
last six years for that figure to double.'
Bringing birds closer
In recent years, the nest-cameras at the RSPB Scotland viewing room in the
Aros Centre and the RSPB/Forestry Commission Scotland live viewing hide on
Mull have given thousands of visitors a chance to experience one of Europe's
most impressive wildlife spectacles - with Scotland's First Minister
recently branding the eagles 'a fantastic asset' after seeing them for the
first time.
Emily Miscioscia, Public Affairs Manager for RSPB Scotland added, 'Our
viewing projects bring some amazing birds closer to people across the UK -
but none have been as popular as white-tailed eagle viewing on the west
coast, with many trips to see the eagles fully-booked days in advance.
'Our partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland at Loch Frisa continues
to provide an unrivalled opportunity in Britain and perhaps Europe to see a
real-life conservation success story in action.'
Much of the work to bring white-tailed eagles closer to the public has been
supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund via the Nadair Trust, an Argyll-wide
project promoting wildlife and environmental education. The Aros Centre
viewing project has also been supported by the Biodiversity Action Grants
Scheme.
The Aros Centre white-tailed eagle viewing room will remain open until
October, where visitors can see footage from the summer and hear the full
story of the eagles.
A report on the success of breeding sea eagles across Scotland in 2006 is
expected at the end of the summer, with early indications suggesting that
this may be the best year yet for fledging white-tailed eagles.
Source: RSPB Scotland
27 July 2006
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Will eagles land a place by the Forth?
ANDY MILNE
([email protected])
THEIR enormous, eight-foot wing-span has earned them the nickname of
the "flying barn doors".
Majestic sea eagles were regularly seen soaring above the waters of the
Firth of Forth in Victorian times. But, regarded as a pest, the birds
eventually vanished from the estuary as they were hunted to extinction
across Scotland.
Now Scottish Natural Heritage is studying sites along the Forth estuary
with a view to re-introducing the birds after a 120-year absence.
After successfully bringing sea eagles back to the west coast, SNH is
now looking to restore the eagles to places where they once thrived in
the east.
Various sites along the Forth and Tay estuaries are being examined, and
although no specific sites have yet been chosen it is hoped the project
will begin within the next year.
Andy Douse, a senior ornithologist at SNH, said the reintroduction of
the sea eagle was a forward step for Scotland.
He said: "There is no doubt that the white-tailed or sea eagle once
lived throughout Scotland.
"And following the success of the west-coast re-introduction project we
must look seriously at the possibility of an east-coast project as a
means of extending the species range."
With a white tail and eight-foot wingspan the "flying barn door" is the
fourth-largest eagle in the world.
At such a size, the sea eagle has no natural predators but was forced
into extinction in Scotland by egg stealing, poisoning and hunting.
Victorian land mangers viewed the giant bird as a pest, but in the
modern age rare birds of prey are a major boost to Scottish tourism.
A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said:
"For example, the ospreys of Scotland attract over 125, 000 visitors
annually who spend £2.2 million every year."
Sea eagles were re-introduced on the Isle of Mull in the 1970s and
their presence is a big pull for bird watchers.
A RSPB hide that views a pair of the sea eagles is estimated to boost
the local economy by £1.7m every year.
The RSPB spokesman said: "The sea eagle is formerly a native bird that
suffered persecution that brought local extinction.
"Reintroducing it is about re-stabilising this totemic species in
Scotland.
"In the past they were persecuted for many reasons such as egg
collecting, deemed contrary to land-management philosophy. They were
basically viewed as a pest.
"There's still a significant risk to the productivity of the birds -
people persist in trying to collect eggs."
The continuing unwanted attention of egg collectors means the birds
will require security measures if they are to survive. Therefore, the
precise location of the sites finally chosen will not - initially at
least - be made public.
The difficulty of reintroducing the birds is compounded by the fact
pairs only produce a brood of one chick each year, meaning the theft of
one egg wipes out a generation.
The birds will be introduced to the east coast by transporting young
sea eagles from Scandinavia and keeping them confined within a wild
area. Once habituated the birds will be released into the wild.
The RSPB spokesman said anyone lucky enough to catch sight of them
would not easily forget the experience.
He said: "The problem with pictures is that there's no scale. If you
see them flying in the sky, they're absolutely enormous.
"Their wings are also very wide. It's quite magnificent, it takes your
breath away."
ANDY MILNE
([email protected])
THEIR enormous, eight-foot wing-span has earned them the nickname of
the "flying barn doors".
Majestic sea eagles were regularly seen soaring above the waters of the
Firth of Forth in Victorian times. But, regarded as a pest, the birds
eventually vanished from the estuary as they were hunted to extinction
across Scotland.
Now Scottish Natural Heritage is studying sites along the Forth estuary
with a view to re-introducing the birds after a 120-year absence.
After successfully bringing sea eagles back to the west coast, SNH is
now looking to restore the eagles to places where they once thrived in
the east.
Various sites along the Forth and Tay estuaries are being examined, and
although no specific sites have yet been chosen it is hoped the project
will begin within the next year.
Andy Douse, a senior ornithologist at SNH, said the reintroduction of
the sea eagle was a forward step for Scotland.
He said: "There is no doubt that the white-tailed or sea eagle once
lived throughout Scotland.
"And following the success of the west-coast re-introduction project we
must look seriously at the possibility of an east-coast project as a
means of extending the species range."
With a white tail and eight-foot wingspan the "flying barn door" is the
fourth-largest eagle in the world.
At such a size, the sea eagle has no natural predators but was forced
into extinction in Scotland by egg stealing, poisoning and hunting.
Victorian land mangers viewed the giant bird as a pest, but in the
modern age rare birds of prey are a major boost to Scottish tourism.
A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said:
"For example, the ospreys of Scotland attract over 125, 000 visitors
annually who spend £2.2 million every year."
Sea eagles were re-introduced on the Isle of Mull in the 1970s and
their presence is a big pull for bird watchers.
A RSPB hide that views a pair of the sea eagles is estimated to boost
the local economy by £1.7m every year.
The RSPB spokesman said: "The sea eagle is formerly a native bird that
suffered persecution that brought local extinction.
"Reintroducing it is about re-stabilising this totemic species in
Scotland.
"In the past they were persecuted for many reasons such as egg
collecting, deemed contrary to land-management philosophy. They were
basically viewed as a pest.
"There's still a significant risk to the productivity of the birds -
people persist in trying to collect eggs."
The continuing unwanted attention of egg collectors means the birds
will require security measures if they are to survive. Therefore, the
precise location of the sites finally chosen will not - initially at
least - be made public.
The difficulty of reintroducing the birds is compounded by the fact
pairs only produce a brood of one chick each year, meaning the theft of
one egg wipes out a generation.
The birds will be introduced to the east coast by transporting young
sea eagles from Scandinavia and keeping them confined within a wild
area. Once habituated the birds will be released into the wild.
The RSPB spokesman said anyone lucky enough to catch sight of them
would not easily forget the experience.
He said: "The problem with pictures is that there's no scale. If you
see them flying in the sky, they're absolutely enormous.
"Their wings are also very wide. It's quite magnificent, it takes your
breath away."
Chris Monk
Well-known member
The eagle has landed in Buchan
The eagle has landed in Buchan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/.../news/eagle.asp
The eagle has landed in Buchan
BIRD WATCHERS in Buchan flocked to Loch of Strathbeg last week to catch a glimpse of the largest bird of prey in Britain.
A white-tailed sea eagle landed at the wildlife sanctuary much to the excitement of Buchan's bird fans.
The raptor, with a wing span of around eight-feet, is the first to be spotted at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve for a number of years and within minutes of the bird landing several naturalists were at the site to take a look at the rare creature.
Angus Burnett, a volunteer at the reserve, was the first person to spot the sea eagle and has dubbed it 'Big Bird'. He said: "It was a big surprise to see it. Last time it was here it stayed for a few days and we're not sure when it will go away this time."
The sea eagle is a rare sight in the North-east as the birds have only relatively recently been introduced to the West Coast of Scotland since being persecuted to near extinction.
Joanna McFarlane, RSPB Community Officer for Loch of Strathbeg and Troup Head, said: "It is quite exciting. This is the largest bird of prey breeding in Scotland. "We don't know much about this bird at the moment but our hunch is that it has come from Scandinavia where there is a large sea eagle population. It is possible that it came in on a weather front and was forced to land because of the low visibility."
The sea eagle was close to extinction in the past, and they were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975 and started breeding again in Scotland in 1985. They are the fourth largest eagles in the world.
Their plumage is mainly brown, but the adult has a pale head and wedge-shaped white tail. The head and the beak are larger than the
golden eagles and the eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow. They are found across Europe and also inhabit parts of Asia. Sea eagles are scavengers and feed on carrion, although they will also hunt fish swimming near the surface of the water, medium-sized mammals and even smaller sea birds.
That has caused some concern at the Loch of Strathbeg reserve as it is home to 20% of the world's population of pink-footed geese.
Joanna insisted that this presented an excellent opportunity for people to see some spectacular wildlife, explaining: "Everybody can come here and this is quite amazing, we are open from dawn till dusk and if people want help they can come over to the bird office."
The eagle has landed in Buchan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/.../news/eagle.asp
The eagle has landed in Buchan
BIRD WATCHERS in Buchan flocked to Loch of Strathbeg last week to catch a glimpse of the largest bird of prey in Britain.
A white-tailed sea eagle landed at the wildlife sanctuary much to the excitement of Buchan's bird fans.
The raptor, with a wing span of around eight-feet, is the first to be spotted at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve for a number of years and within minutes of the bird landing several naturalists were at the site to take a look at the rare creature.
Angus Burnett, a volunteer at the reserve, was the first person to spot the sea eagle and has dubbed it 'Big Bird'. He said: "It was a big surprise to see it. Last time it was here it stayed for a few days and we're not sure when it will go away this time."
The sea eagle is a rare sight in the North-east as the birds have only relatively recently been introduced to the West Coast of Scotland since being persecuted to near extinction.
Joanna McFarlane, RSPB Community Officer for Loch of Strathbeg and Troup Head, said: "It is quite exciting. This is the largest bird of prey breeding in Scotland. "We don't know much about this bird at the moment but our hunch is that it has come from Scandinavia where there is a large sea eagle population. It is possible that it came in on a weather front and was forced to land because of the low visibility."
The sea eagle was close to extinction in the past, and they were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975 and started breeding again in Scotland in 1985. They are the fourth largest eagles in the world.
Their plumage is mainly brown, but the adult has a pale head and wedge-shaped white tail. The head and the beak are larger than the
golden eagles and the eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow. They are found across Europe and also inhabit parts of Asia. Sea eagles are scavengers and feed on carrion, although they will also hunt fish swimming near the surface of the water, medium-sized mammals and even smaller sea birds.
That has caused some concern at the Loch of Strathbeg reserve as it is home to 20% of the world's population of pink-footed geese.
Joanna insisted that this presented an excellent opportunity for people to see some spectacular wildlife, explaining: "Everybody can come here and this is quite amazing, we are open from dawn till dusk and if people want help they can come over to the bird office."
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White-tailed Eagle attacks Common Crane
How about this sequence?
White-tailed Eagle attacks Common Crane
http://www.axel-horn.de/seeadlerjagd/index.html
How about this sequence?
White-tailed Eagle attacks Common Crane
http://www.axel-horn.de/seeadlerjagd/index.html
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White-tailed eagle to make comeback in Ireland
White-tailed eagle to make comeback in Ireland
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...LAND-EAGLES.xml
Thu Jan 4, 2007 8:22am ET
DUBLIN (Reuters) - A species of eagle that disappeared from Ireland more than 100 years ago could soon be soaring over the country once again if a five-year wildlife project is successful.
Experts plan to reintroduce the White-tailed Sea Eagle, one of the world's largest birds of prey, into a national park in the southwestern county of Kerry as part of the scheme.
Eagle chicks from Norway will be released into Killarney National Park this summer, Eamonn Meskell of Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service told Reuters on Thursday.
"The hope is that after about eight weeks the chicks will have fully fledged and will fly out to the coast and then, with luck, they'll start breeding after four to five years," he said.
"To get them breeding will be a major feat but we wouldn't be trying this unless we thought we had a chance."
Some 15 chicks will be brought into the region annually over the duration of the project.
Kerry's rugged Atlantic coastline is an ideal habitat for the eagle, which likes to feed on the carcases of dead seals and porpoises, Meskell said.
The bird, which died out in Ireland in the early 1900s due to egg collectors and trigger-happy gamekeepers, has a wing span of up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) and in neighboring Britain is confined mainly to the northwestern tip of Scotland.
In 2001, conservationists began reintroducing the Golden Eagle to County Donegal in northwestern Ireland -- nearly a century after hunters wiped out that species on the island -- and have released more than 40 birds to date.
White-tailed eagle to make comeback in Ireland
http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...LAND-EAGLES.xml
Thu Jan 4, 2007 8:22am ET
DUBLIN (Reuters) - A species of eagle that disappeared from Ireland more than 100 years ago could soon be soaring over the country once again if a five-year wildlife project is successful.
Experts plan to reintroduce the White-tailed Sea Eagle, one of the world's largest birds of prey, into a national park in the southwestern county of Kerry as part of the scheme.
Eagle chicks from Norway will be released into Killarney National Park this summer, Eamonn Meskell of Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service told Reuters on Thursday.
"The hope is that after about eight weeks the chicks will have fully fledged and will fly out to the coast and then, with luck, they'll start breeding after four to five years," he said.
"To get them breeding will be a major feat but we wouldn't be trying this unless we thought we had a chance."
Some 15 chicks will be brought into the region annually over the duration of the project.
Kerry's rugged Atlantic coastline is an ideal habitat for the eagle, which likes to feed on the carcases of dead seals and porpoises, Meskell said.
The bird, which died out in Ireland in the early 1900s due to egg collectors and trigger-happy gamekeepers, has a wing span of up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) and in neighboring Britain is confined mainly to the northwestern tip of Scotland.
In 2001, conservationists began reintroducing the Golden Eagle to County Donegal in northwestern Ireland -- nearly a century after hunters wiped out that species on the island -- and have released more than 40 birds to date.
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White-tailed eagles to soar in County Kerry
Ulster TV web site: http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/ind...p?id=79045&pt=n ry skies
THURSDAY 04/01/2007 11:15:03
White-tailed eagles to soar in County Kerry
Sea eagles could be flying over Ireland this summer after plans were announced today to re-introduce the huge birds of prey.
Following the success of the golden eagle project in Donegal, conservation experts are now being charged with bringing white-tailed sea eagles back to the mountains, lakes and valleys of Killarney National Park in County Kerry.
Sea eagles have been extinct in Ireland for more than 100 years. The first young birds will be sourced in Norway before being introduced in June and July.
White-tailed sea eagles are the fourth largest eagle in the world, growing to about 3ft (just under 1m) tall with a wingspan of up to 8ft (2.5m).
Using successful methods developed for other projects in Ireland and Scotland, the release phase will last for at least five years, with about 15 birds let into the park each year.
Environment Minister Dick Roche added:
"After 100 years, the white-tailed sea eagle is coming back to Kerry. The Norwegian authorities have approved the licence application for donor stock in principle and we are now finalising the collection details."
A team of experts from Norway visited the south west of Ireland late last year to find the most suitable area for re-introduction and reported that the peninsulas and deep bays of Kerry and west Cork would be best.
It is the second re-introduction scheme in Ireland and follows the successful golden eagle project in Donegal, now in its sixth year. They had been absent there since 1910 and four pairs are now nesting in the county, but no chicks have hatched.
There have been sightings of the birds as far away as north Antrim, Foxford, Co Mayo, and the Blue Stack Mountains in south Donegal.
Despite some initial reservations, the project has gone from strength to strength, with strong support of the local Gaeltacht community in Glenveagh National Park, farmers and tourism bodies.
The sea eagle project, endorsed by some of the foremost eagle experts in Europe, will see the birds of prey reared with a minimum of human contact and close monitoring taking place after release.
Mr Roche added that it was hoped the project would have a viable and long-term benefit for tourism in Kerry.
In Scotland, sea eagles attract thousands of visitors and have been shown to be worth up to €2 million annually to island of Mull.
A male white-tailed weighs some 9lb (4.1kg) while females tip the scales at 12lb (5.5kg).
Despite their size, power and being adept hunters, they scavenge much of their food, feeding on carrion - although they also hunt sea birds, fish swimming near the surface of the water and medium-sized mammals.
They construct large nests of branches and twigs in trees or on cliffs. The female lays an average of two eggs, which she incubates for about six weeks. The young flee the nest after 10 weeks.
Sea eagles are very large, broad-winged birds with a wedge-shaped tail. With mainly brown plumage the adult has a pale head and a white tail.
The head and beak are larger than a golden eagle and the eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow.
They are found across Europe and in parts of Asia. They were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum, Scotland, in 1975 and started breeding in 1985 before spreading to other areas.
Ulster TV web site: http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/ind...p?id=79045&pt=n ry skies
THURSDAY 04/01/2007 11:15:03
White-tailed eagles to soar in County Kerry
Sea eagles could be flying over Ireland this summer after plans were announced today to re-introduce the huge birds of prey.
Following the success of the golden eagle project in Donegal, conservation experts are now being charged with bringing white-tailed sea eagles back to the mountains, lakes and valleys of Killarney National Park in County Kerry.
Sea eagles have been extinct in Ireland for more than 100 years. The first young birds will be sourced in Norway before being introduced in June and July.
White-tailed sea eagles are the fourth largest eagle in the world, growing to about 3ft (just under 1m) tall with a wingspan of up to 8ft (2.5m).
Using successful methods developed for other projects in Ireland and Scotland, the release phase will last for at least five years, with about 15 birds let into the park each year.
Environment Minister Dick Roche added:
"After 100 years, the white-tailed sea eagle is coming back to Kerry. The Norwegian authorities have approved the licence application for donor stock in principle and we are now finalising the collection details."
A team of experts from Norway visited the south west of Ireland late last year to find the most suitable area for re-introduction and reported that the peninsulas and deep bays of Kerry and west Cork would be best.
It is the second re-introduction scheme in Ireland and follows the successful golden eagle project in Donegal, now in its sixth year. They had been absent there since 1910 and four pairs are now nesting in the county, but no chicks have hatched.
There have been sightings of the birds as far away as north Antrim, Foxford, Co Mayo, and the Blue Stack Mountains in south Donegal.
Despite some initial reservations, the project has gone from strength to strength, with strong support of the local Gaeltacht community in Glenveagh National Park, farmers and tourism bodies.
The sea eagle project, endorsed by some of the foremost eagle experts in Europe, will see the birds of prey reared with a minimum of human contact and close monitoring taking place after release.
Mr Roche added that it was hoped the project would have a viable and long-term benefit for tourism in Kerry.
In Scotland, sea eagles attract thousands of visitors and have been shown to be worth up to €2 million annually to island of Mull.
A male white-tailed weighs some 9lb (4.1kg) while females tip the scales at 12lb (5.5kg).
Despite their size, power and being adept hunters, they scavenge much of their food, feeding on carrion - although they also hunt sea birds, fish swimming near the surface of the water and medium-sized mammals.
They construct large nests of branches and twigs in trees or on cliffs. The female lays an average of two eggs, which she incubates for about six weeks. The young flee the nest after 10 weeks.
Sea eagles are very large, broad-winged birds with a wedge-shaped tail. With mainly brown plumage the adult has a pale head and a white tail.
The head and beak are larger than a golden eagle and the eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow.
They are found across Europe and in parts of Asia. They were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum, Scotland, in 1975 and started breeding in 1985 before spreading to other areas.
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Sea eagle spreads its wings to head east
Scotland on Sunday http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1833552006
Sun 10 Dec 2006
Sea eagle spreads its wings to head east
JEREMY WATSON ([email protected])
THE iconic white-tailed sea eagle will once again fly over the east coast of Scotland under an ambitious plan to reintroduce one of the world's biggest birds of prey to its former range.
Up to 100 of the birds - with 8ft wingspans - will be released in the Forth/Tay estuary area over a five-year period.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has already applied to the Scottish Executive for a licence to release sea eagle chicks imported from Norway. The Executive's adviser, Scottish Natural Heritage, have now agreed to pay half the costs of the £250,000 project.
But landowners and farmers fear the eagles, bigger than golden eagles, will prey on livestock along the rich east coast farmlands. Lambs have been taken by the giant birds of prey during a similar successful reintroduction on the west coast of Scotland and the National Farmers' Union Scotland claims releases close to towns and cities could have "unpredictable" consequences.
The Executive will launch a public consultation once a site, most likely to be close to a fish-rich estuary, has been selected.
Sea eagles were abundant along both the west and east coasts, but were hunted to extinction by Victorian and Edwardian gamekeepers, with the last bird shot on Shetland in 1918.
Reintroduction to the west coast began in 1975, with releases on the remote island of Rum, and later on the Letterewe Estate in the north-west Highlands.
The birds have spread to west coast islands, including Mull and Skye, and are successfully breeding in the wild.
But although at least 30 pairs are now established, the bird's long-term future still remains uncertain.
Andrew Douse, an SNH scientist involved in the project, said: "These dramatic and unmistakable birds have a huge wingspan and are a very impressive sight."
Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: "This project will extend the range of this magnificent and awe inspiring species to the east coast of Scotland, bringing it far closer to people and opening up the very considerable economic benefits from tourism that have been reaped by places where sea eagles can be seen, like Mull.
"Their natural habitat is lowland wetland, coastal and estuarine areas. These are much richer feeding grounds for sea eagles, where their diet comprises both fish and water birds that are often scavenged or taken alive."
Sea eagle-related tourism is now estimated to bring around £1.7m a year into Mull. But, as SNH points out in a report on the reintroduction programme, extending the range to eastern Scotland brings both "opportunities" and "risks".
"The presence of sea eagles has had a number of unforeseen consequences, in particular localised but problematic predation on livestock (especially lambs)," the report says.
However, it adds that the problem has largely been overcome by persuading farmers to look after eagle sites because of the economic benefits the birds bring.
NFU Scotland states it is not opposed, in principle, to the reintroduction of species, but wants a thorough examination of the potential risks.
For example, a spokeswoman said, sea eagles reintroduced on the west coast had found a "plentiful and readily available supply of lamb", changing their eating habits from the historically preferred diet of fish and birds, "causing damage and concern to the local farming community".
Scotland on Sunday http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1833552006
Sun 10 Dec 2006
Sea eagle spreads its wings to head east
JEREMY WATSON ([email protected])
THE iconic white-tailed sea eagle will once again fly over the east coast of Scotland under an ambitious plan to reintroduce one of the world's biggest birds of prey to its former range.
Up to 100 of the birds - with 8ft wingspans - will be released in the Forth/Tay estuary area over a five-year period.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has already applied to the Scottish Executive for a licence to release sea eagle chicks imported from Norway. The Executive's adviser, Scottish Natural Heritage, have now agreed to pay half the costs of the £250,000 project.
But landowners and farmers fear the eagles, bigger than golden eagles, will prey on livestock along the rich east coast farmlands. Lambs have been taken by the giant birds of prey during a similar successful reintroduction on the west coast of Scotland and the National Farmers' Union Scotland claims releases close to towns and cities could have "unpredictable" consequences.
The Executive will launch a public consultation once a site, most likely to be close to a fish-rich estuary, has been selected.
Sea eagles were abundant along both the west and east coasts, but were hunted to extinction by Victorian and Edwardian gamekeepers, with the last bird shot on Shetland in 1918.
Reintroduction to the west coast began in 1975, with releases on the remote island of Rum, and later on the Letterewe Estate in the north-west Highlands.
The birds have spread to west coast islands, including Mull and Skye, and are successfully breeding in the wild.
But although at least 30 pairs are now established, the bird's long-term future still remains uncertain.
Andrew Douse, an SNH scientist involved in the project, said: "These dramatic and unmistakable birds have a huge wingspan and are a very impressive sight."
Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: "This project will extend the range of this magnificent and awe inspiring species to the east coast of Scotland, bringing it far closer to people and opening up the very considerable economic benefits from tourism that have been reaped by places where sea eagles can be seen, like Mull.
"Their natural habitat is lowland wetland, coastal and estuarine areas. These are much richer feeding grounds for sea eagles, where their diet comprises both fish and water birds that are often scavenged or taken alive."
Sea eagle-related tourism is now estimated to bring around £1.7m a year into Mull. But, as SNH points out in a report on the reintroduction programme, extending the range to eastern Scotland brings both "opportunities" and "risks".
"The presence of sea eagles has had a number of unforeseen consequences, in particular localised but problematic predation on livestock (especially lambs)," the report says.
However, it adds that the problem has largely been overcome by persuading farmers to look after eagle sites because of the economic benefits the birds bring.
NFU Scotland states it is not opposed, in principle, to the reintroduction of species, but wants a thorough examination of the potential risks.
For example, a spokeswoman said, sea eagles reintroduced on the west coast had found a "plentiful and readily available supply of lamb", changing their eating habits from the historically preferred diet of fish and birds, "causing damage and concern to the local farming community".
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Potential impact of white-tailed eagles on bittern, marsh harrier, breeding waders..
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=67752&highlight=WHITE-TAILED+EAGLE
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=67752&highlight=WHITE-TAILED+EAGLE
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White Tailed Chicks in Holland!
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59047&highlight=WHITE-TAILED+EAGLE
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59047&highlight=WHITE-TAILED+EAGLE
Chris Monk
Well-known member
White-tailed Eagles in Denmark
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=65630&highlight=WHITE-TAILED+EAGLE
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=65630&highlight=WHITE-TAILED+EAGLE
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Chris Monk
Well-known member
Chris Monk
Well-known member
