Latest news with #white-tailed eagle
Times
a day ago
- General
- Times
First white-tailed eagle chick fledges in Dorset for 240 years
A record three white-tailed eagle chicks have successfully fledged from two wild nests in England, including the first in Dorset for over two centuries. The chicks were reared by white-tailed eagles released into the wild by a pioneering conservation project by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return the lost species to England. Two different pairs of white-tailed eagles successfully bred this year, including the first chick in Dorset for more than 240 years, and two chicks raised in a nest in Sussex. • Frisa, Scotland's oldest white-tailed eagle, dies aged 32 A single male chick fledged from a nest in Dorset. The parent birds were released from the Isle of Wight in 2020, settled in Dorset and paired up in 2023. This is their first successful breeding attempt and made more surprising by the fact that the father has only one leg after losing the other four years ago. Two chicks, both females, fledged this year from a nest in Sussex. Both are the offspring of two white-tailed eagles released by the project in 2020. This year's successful breeding brings the number of these birds born in the wild through the project to six. In 2023 a single chick was born, the first in England since the 18th century when the species was lost due to persecution. A further two chicks were born in the summer of 2024. All of the chicks are fitted with satellite tags so that the project team can track their progress. Over the last year they have used satellite data to follow the fledglings as they have explored widely across the UK. White-tailed eagles typically reach breeding maturity at about four or five years old. From the birds released by the project, three pairs have formed and established territories in southern England. Several of the younger birds are also present in potential future breeding areas typically close to freshwater wetlands or the coast, where the birds can catch fish, which is their preferred food. In time, it is hoped that a population of six to ten breeding pairs will become established within 60km of the release site on the Isle of Wight. Roy Dennis, founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, said: 'This is a long-term project and it will take some years before the population is fully restored, but the progress made over the last year has been incredibly encouraging. We have some well-established pairs and two that are actively breeding. We hope to build on this progress and I'm really pleased that we have been able to release an additional eight birds this year to further boost the population. 'I always find it particularly rewarding to see so much support for these magnificent birds and the positive impact they are having on so many people's relationship with the natural world.' Steve Egerton-Read, project officer for Forestry England, said that it was 'such an exciting time but also incredibly nerve wracking'. He added: 'We hope that in years to come these iconic birds will become a much more common sight, inspiring future generations and deepening their connection with nature.' • White-tailed eagles are set to return — and farmers aren't happy White-tailed eagles are Britain's largest birds of prey with a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres and were once widespread across England, but human persecution caused their extinction. The last breeding pair were recorded in 1780 in southern England. In 2019 Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation began reintroducing the birds to the English landscape. To date, 45 young white-tailed eagles have been released. This includes eight released this summer from the 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. Birds for release are collected from wild nests in Scotland under licence from NatureScot before being transported to England with valuable support from Civil Air Support. The birds are subsequently reared and released on the Isle of Wight, all birds released by the project are fitted with satellite tags. White-tailed eagles are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Disturbing, destroying or interfering with them and their nests are criminal offences. The specific locations of this year's nests are not being disclosed in order to ensure the welfare of the birds and to prevent any disturbance to them or the landowner this year or if the birds return to breed at the same location.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Nearly 250 white-tailed eagle chicks released into wild via Kerry scheme
A white-tailed eagle reintroduction programme set up in Killarney National Park has resulted in almost 250 chicks being released into the wild. As the 18-year-long project draws to a close, the initiative has resulted in 245 white tailed eagle chicks being reintroduced, with 26 released in 2025. There are now large numbers of breeding pairs among the established population after an absence of more than 100 years. Once native to Ireland, the white-tailed eagle became extinct in the 19th century due to human persecution. Since 2007, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been working with partners in Norway, along with farmers and communities countrywide to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle and establish a population in Ireland. The white-tailed eagle is a bird of prey and plays an important part in protecting Ireland's biodiversity. READ MORE The programme is ending following several releases around the country this month. Minister of State for Nature Christopher O'Sullivan released four of the chicks into the wild at the Co Kerry park. He said more than 18 years of work and collaboration have led to a 'growing white-tailed eagle population and also has seen habitat restoration and engagement with landowners and farmers' to secure the eagles' ongoing protection. [ White-tailed sea eagles win over farmers thanks to successful Irish return Opens in new window ] Mr O'Sullivan said 'we now have evidence of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties further afield – from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal.' 'Whilst we are sad to see the programme come to a close this year, it leaves a lasting legacy in the skies.' All of the chicks are fitted with satellite tags so that their movements can be tracked as they disperse and establish in new areas. The chicks are vulnerable to external factors such as adverse weather conditions, avian influenza, disease, and illegal poisonings. Norway's ambassador to Ireland, Aslak Brun, said eagles are 'once again spreading their wings in Ireland, thanks to wildlife experts and volunteers from both our countries.' The ambassador pointed out that each country has an 'obligation to protect nature and halt the loss of biodiversity. It is my hope that the unique co-operation to reintroduce eagles will serve as an inspiration for other wildlife projects.' It is estimated that there are now approximately 150 individual eagles in the wild in Ireland, enough to maintain and sustain the population. So far this year, the exact number of chicks born in the wild is unknown, but there are 17 known pairs in total. In 2024, a total of 13 chicks were born from 10 pairs of the birds.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
‘Miracle' eagle that defied the odds spotted in sky after months missing
A white-tailed eagle whose survival was hailed as a "miracle" has been spotted over Mull almost a year after its disappearance. The bird of prey fell from its nest in July 2023 and broke its wing. Uncharacteristically for the species, the chick's parents nursed it back to health. The bird, nicknamed 'Kinky', has since learned to fly and moves in a distinctive wobbly pattern while in the sky. RSPB Scotland had regarded Kinky as a "miracle chick" before it vanished in autumn 2024. Its return was confirmed on 1 July by Blair Ketteringham, a crew member of Mull Charters, who sighted it circling over the island of Forsa in Loch na Keal, Mull. RSPB Scotland ambassador Dave Sexton said he could not believe the photo sent to him by Mr Ketteringham. 'Frankly, I was in disbelief, as I seriously doubted if Kinky could survive last winter without his parents to support him,' he said. 'Clearly they had to move on with their lives and are finally breeding again this year, but of Kinky there'd been no sign despite our appeal. 'He was soaring high over Eorsa like any other eagle would and eventually came down to land where he interacted briefly with a different adult sea eagle. 'It's testament to his strength of character and incredible survival skills that he seems to have overcome his major injury – with a lot of help from mum and dad.' Mr Sexton added: 'For most eagles, a broken wing would be a death sentence as they're unable to hunt and feed. 'But Kinky is a shining example of what perseverance can achieve.' According to the RSPB, the white-tailed eagle is the UK's largest bird of prey. It is also known as the sea eagle as it prefers to live near the coast. It went extinct in the UK during the early 1990s due to hunting, and the present population is descended from reintroduced birds. The eagle's wingspan can reach up to 2.5 metres and it can be identified by its pale head and neck, which can be almost white in older animals. It is a Schedule 1 species which means it is illegal to disturb the birds.
