White-tailed eagles are set to be reintroduced to the Lake District after being hunted to extinction 300 years ago

Soaring majestically in the skies with a giant wingspan of over eight feet, they are Britains largest birds of prey.


Soaring majestically in the skies with a giant wingspan of over eight feet, they are Britains largest birds of prey.

Now white-tailed eagles could be brought back to the Lake District - over two centuries since being hunted to extinction in the 18th century.

It follows successful reintroductions in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Wight.

Consultation has now been launched about the proposed revival of the birds in Cumbria.

But the project has caused concern among farmers - with the National Sheep Association, whose members include hill farmers in the Lake District, meeting with project leaders yesterday.

White-tailed eagles could be brought back to the Lake District - over two centuries since being hunted to extinction in the 18th century (pictured: White-tailed Eagle off the Isle of Mull)

White-tailed eagles could be brought back to the Lake District - over two centuries since being hunted to extinction in the 18th century (pictured: White-tailed Eagle off the Isle of Mull)

A consultation has been launched about the proposed revival of the birds in Cumbria (pictured: White-tailed Eagle off the Isle of Wight)

A consultation has been launched about the proposed revival of the birds in Cumbria (pictured: White-tailed Eagle off the Isle of Wight)

In Scotland, there have been reports of the eagles preying on lambs to the extent supplies of meat and fish have had to be put out to divert the airborne predators attention.

Dr Deborah Brady, from the Lifescape Project, which is behind the proposed reintroduction in Cumbria - and believes the birds have an intrinsic right to exist in the Lake District - said its aim was to reverse the biodiversity crisis were in.

She told the BBC: One of the key things we need to do is bring back species that are missing from our ecosystems and some species have more impact than others. The eagle is definitely part of that.

The last recorded attempt to revive white-tailed eagles in the region was in 1787 when there were efforts to breed the birds near Haweswater.

Richard Francksen, zoologist at the University of Cumbria, called the eagles were a majestic, incredible, awe-inspiring species.

He said they would positively impact the tourism industry and local economy if their reintroduction was done properly.

Mr Francksen added: They should be here anyway.

Photo shows a white-tailed eagle issued by the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group

Photo shows a white-tailed eagle issued by the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group

Reintroductions elsewhere have proved contentious. Two years ago, Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil, who represents the Western Isles and has his own sheep flock, called for a cull of the birds - first reintroduced to the Scottish Islands in the 1970s.

He said numbers of the eagles were bumping up due to them eating livestock and said a neighbouring farmer had lost healthy lambs.

Wildlife management body NatureScot did not agree to a cull but highlighted mitigation measures including diversionary feeding - providing meat and fish in a location away from livestock.

As part of a consultation process, the Lake District National Park Authority has organised a series of public drop-in sessions and meetings about the proposed reintroduction of the eagles.

Tim Duckmanton, team leader for strategy and environment at the authority, said: We need to understand, is it feasible from a community point of view? Do they want white-tailed eagles back in the landscape?

Then, after that, we move to how we go about releasing them later.

REINTRODUCING THE WHITE TAILED SEA EAGLE 

White-tailed eagles, or white-tailed sea eagles, were once widespread along the whole of the south coast of England, from Cornwall to Kent, before being driven to extinction by relentless persecution that began in the Middle Ages. 

It was believed that they could deplete populations of game animals, as they feed on various birds, rabbits and hares.

The species suffered huge declines in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries and was driven to extinction in the UK, mainly through persecution. 

It has since been reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland and more recently to the east coast, and a reintroduction programme is currently underway in Ireland. 

As with many birds of prey, the species suffered huge losses in the 1950s and 1960s due to organochlorine pesticides such as DDT, which caused egg shell thinning.  

The last pair bred on Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight in 1780. 

Following the reintroduction of White-tailed Eagles to Scotland – where there are now over 130 breeding pairs – Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation was granted licences by Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage to begin an English reintroduction. 

In the UK white tailed eagles are strictly protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. 

It is an offence to intentionally take, injure or kill a white-tailed eagle or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young. 

It is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to their nest during the breeding season. 

Violation can result in a fine of up to £5000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months. 

Despite this, threats still exist. The main current threat in the UK is persecution, predominantly through poisoning, something which has overshadowed the otherwise successful reintroduction programmes. 

Illegal egg collection remains an additional threat. 

In Scotland the best places to see white-tailed eagles are Mull, Skye and parts of the northwest Highlands. 

Many parts of southern England are capable of supporting breeding and wintering White-tailed Eagles, but the Isle of Wight was considered the most suitable location for the reintroduction. 

It is the last known breeding site of the species in southern England and is located close to highly suitable foraging areas in the Solent and surrounding estuaries.

It also has numerous potential nesting sites in woods and cliffs and quiet areas for immature birds. 

And it is well positioned to facilitate the dispersal of eagles both west and east along the coast to sites such as Poole Harbour in Dorset and Pagham Harbour in West Sussex. 

 Source: Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation/RSPB

BBC
Источник: Daily Online

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