White-tailed eagles (also known as sea eagles), disappeared from England’s skies more than 200 years ago but have slowly been making a return to the south of the country since 2019. A pair of the birds successfully bred for the first time last year and now there are plans to reintroduce even more.
The breed has an enormous wingspan of 2.5 metres (8.2ft), making it the UK’s largest bird of prey. A reintroduction project by Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England has been going from strength to strength and now there are plans to release up to 20 young eagles in Exmoor National Park.
White-tails used to breed in Exmoor before going extinct in from England in 1780. Experts say that Exmoor has proved to be particular hotspot for the birds and over the past few years they have been spotted visiting the area once again.
Before the plans go ahead, Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) is asking locals to share their opinions on the project.
Ali Hawkins, senior ecologist for ENPA, said: ‘White-tailed eagles are an important flagship species in coastal ecosystems and used to be found right across the UK but are now one of our rarest species and listed as a species of Conservation Concern.
‘We have been doing a lot of liaison with local landowners and shoots regarding white-tailed eagles already visiting Exmoor.
‘We’d really like to hear what people think about white-tailed eagles in our public perception survey and invite everyone to come to our events and to talk with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England who are experts on these birds, and our Exmoor National Park conservation staff and rangers.’
If all goes to plan, conservationists say that the reintroduction will help boost the population of sea eagle across the English coast and contribute to the biodiversity of the area.
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Did you know that there has also been great success reintroducing Britain’s tallest bird to the country? And you can now see a family of the world’s most dangerous birds in the Cotswolds. In other recent conservation news, a lost ancient rainforest in Wales is being brought back to life, baby beavers have been born in London for the first time in 400 years and ancient cows could soon be introduced to the Scottish Highlands.
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