Young White-tailed Eagle numbers increasing in Scotland

White-tailed Sea Egle come-back!

In a BBC News report published a few days ago, we learn that the White-tailed Eagle is coming back strongly a great success for the 25 years since the re-introduction of the species.

Pairs of white-tailed sea eagles in Scotland produced more young during 2010 than in any other year since they were reintroduced 35 years ago.

RSPB Scotland said 46 young birds fledged which was 10 more than the previous year. Scotland also has 52 adult pairs, an increase of six on 2009 figures, according to the charity. The birds were first reintroduced to Rum in 1975, but can now also be found in Fife.

And last year, a Sea Eagle was spotted over Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway after it flew down from Fife. It was seen over the Solway coast near Carlisle and later above Annan in southern Scotland.

The UK’s largest bird of prey was hunted to extinction over the 19th and 20th Centuries and new birds had to be taken from countries such as Norway for release in Scotland. Sturt Housden (RSPB) says:  Achieving the milestone of 50 pairs puts the species well on track to reaching pre-Victorian population levels. Continue reading the main story….