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Sea eagles at Scotland’s Loch Lomond for first time in 100 years

7 min read

Inspiring People
Source: natural-research.org

For the first time in more than a century the UK’s largest bird of prey—white-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles—were spotted looking for suitable nesting sites at Loch Lomond national nature reserve.

White-tailed eagles at Loch Lomond for the first time in over a century

White-tailed eagles have appeared on Loch Lomond for the first time in over a hundred years, according to a 11 June joint press release by Nature.scot and Lomond-Trossachs.org — Nature bodies are working together to protect the native birds and minimise disturbance in the hope that they might stay and breed in future years.

Following two failed earlier attempts, the species was re-introduced into Scotland between 1975 and 1985 using donor stock from Norway. On release these captive reared birds roamed widely before settling on the west coast of Scotland and starting to breed from the early 1980s.
The steady decline of the white-tailed eagle population in the British Isles resulted in its final extinction in 1918. Following two failed earlier attempts, the species was re-introduced into Scotland between 1975 and 1985 using donor stock from Norway. On release these captive reared birds roamed widely before settling on the west coast of Scotland and starting to breed from the early 1980s. Source: ebirder.net
Two years later however, the first wild Scottish white-tailed eagle chick for more than seventy years fledged. Since then, the population has slowly expanded, bolstered by another west coast re-introduction phase between 1993 and 1998.
The first eggs were laid on Mull in 1983, but failed to hatch. Two years later however, the first wild Scottish white-tailed eagle chick for more than seventy years fledged. Since then, the population has slowly expanded, bolstered by another west coast re-introduction phase between 1993 and 1998. Source: ScottishRaptorStudyGroup.org

There are now thought to be over 150 breeding pairs in Scotland

A pair of white-tailed eagles, or sea eagles as they’re commonly known, were first spotted at Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve in early March this year. They have since been observed ‘nest prospecting’ – searching for suitable nest sites – suggesting they intend to stay.

It is believed that this is the first time sea eagles have settled at Loch Lomond since persecution and habitat changes led to their extinction in Britain in the early 20th century, with the last known bird reported in Shetland in 1918.

Their reintroduction to Scotland, first in the 1970s and again in the 90s and early 2000s, has been a conservation success. There are now estimated to be over 150 breeding pairs in Scotland. Continued below…

Source: Nature.scot 

Nevertheless, due to the monitoring, protection and careful management by an army of workers, both professional and voluntary, in the office and in the field, the population has gradually gained an increasingly firm foothold.
Along the way territories have been occupied and then abandoned, breeding trios have occasionally been formed, clutches of eggs have been stolen by collectors and sadly some birds have been illegally poisoned or shot. Nevertheless, due to the monitoring, protection and careful management by an army of workers, both professional and voluntary, in the office and in the field, the population has gradually gained an increasingly firm foothold. Source: ebirder.net
supplementary feeding, and even the placement of orphaned young into foster nests as opposed to captive rearing, to maximise opportunity of survival in the wild.
Management has included continuous protection of nest sites throughout incubation, supplementary feeding, and even the placement of orphaned young into foster nests as opposed to captive rearing, to maximise opportunity of survival in the wild. Source: ebirder.net

the latest chapter in the continuing success story of sea eagle conservation

NatureScot, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and RSPB Scotland are working together to monitor the birds’ behaviour, and to put in place protection and visitor management measures to ensure the birds are not disturbed by other loch users. This includes an exclusion zone, signs asking visitors to keep their distance and monitoring of the area during regular Ranger patrols.  Police Scotland are also aware of the presence of the sea eagles.

NatureScot Operations Manager Paul Roberts said, “This is the latest chapter in the continuing success story of sea eagle conservation.

“Along with our partners, we carefully manage the reserve to offer rich and diverse habitats to support a wide range of birds and other wildlife, so it’s very rewarding to see the sea eagles return to Loch Lomond after all these years.

“We’re working closely with LLTNPA and RSPB Scotland to protect the birds and we are urging visitors to enjoy the reserve responsibly and make sure they don’t disturb them.”

Simon Jones, Director of Environment & Visitor Services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “White Tailed Eagles are the UK’s largest bird of prey and to have them here in the National Park is something we are excited about.

“We all have a responsibility to help keep these special birds safe and try to minimise disturbance to them.  We are engaging with a range of stakeholders who may be impacted by the birds’ arrival in the area, including loch users, visitors and local farmers.

“Protecting the natural environment and the wildlife here in the National Park is a priority for the Park Authority and we have plenty of experience of doing this, including our work to protect nesting ospreys, for whom we have put similar protections in place.” Continued below…

Source: Nature.scot

although after the first ten years the population appeared to have reached a plateau of only a dozen territories, with very marked differences between the least and the most productive.
From 1985 onwards white-tailed eagles have bred successfully in the wild in Scotland, although after the first ten years the population appeared to have reached a plateau of only a dozen territories, with very marked differences between the least and the most productive. Source: ebirder.net
Then, from 1998 birds from the second re-introduction phase also started to enter the breeding population and from then on the population has shown a healthier increase.
A milestone was passed in 1995 when the first territory was occupied by a Scottish-bred bird. Then, from 1998 birds from the second re-introduction phase also started to enter the breeding population and from then on the population has shown a healthier increase. Source: Cairngorms.co.uk

Sea eagles’ range is now expanding across Britain

The reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to Scotland, originally by NNC and latterly a joint project between NatureScot (then Scottish Natural Heritage) and RSPB, has been successful, and there are now estimated to be over 150 nesting pairs.

Well established on the west coast of Scotland, their range is now expanding across Britain, with reintroductions on the Isle of Wight and planned for the Norfolk coast.

Further information on white-tailed eagle population and future range predictions is available in this NatureScot commissioned report from 2016.

White-tailed eagles, their nests, eggs and young are protected by law and it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them.  This protection extends to birds when they are away from the nest and outside the breeding season.

White-tailed eagles’ natural prey includes seabirds, fish, hare and geese and they are also known scavengers.

There have been no reported livestock predation issues related to the sea eagles at Loch Lomond. However, in some locations, sea eagles can impact farming and crofting by predating lambs.

The main support mechanism to help farmers and crofters experiencing sea eagle predation is the Sea Eagle Management Scheme. Continued below…

Source: LochLomond-Trossachs.org  Additional information: ScottishRaptorStudyGroup.org

In 2000, the 100th wild chick fledged in the re-established population, and by 2012 the number of territories exceeded 65.
In 2000 another significant milestone was reached. In 2000, the 100th wild chick fledged in the re-established population, and by 2012 the number of territories exceeded 65. Source: PeterCairns/NorthShots/WildScotland.org
This has involved a careful programme of marking young birds in order to be able to identify them individually from a distance.
Throughout this period data have been collected in order to study movements of birds and longevity. This has involved a careful programme of marking young birds in order to be able to identify them individually from a distance. Source: Natural-Research.org

Scotland’s west coast is the best place to spot white-tailed eagles

Currently, the Scottish west coast is still probably the best place to see white-tailed eagles in their natural environment in the British Isles – with Skye and Mull being particularly recommended. 

Nomadic immatures are, of course, recorded occasionally all over the country. However, in 2007 a third phase of the white-tailed eagle re-introduction project commenced, aimed at re-establishing the species to the richer lochs, firths and wetlands of the lowland Scottish east coast. 

Between 2007 and 2012, 85 well feathered nestlings were brought in, once again from Norway, reared in captivity and released into the wild. These birds were wing-tagged (with the exception of the 2008 cohort which were colour-ringed) and also fitted with 5 year VHF radios to help project staff track their whereabouts. 

They too have been ranging far and wide up and down the east coast and occasionally over to the west. And while pair bonding and territory formation has been happening in the east, in fact the first successful breeding attempt of an east coast white-tailed eagle took place on Mull, with a 2007 female paired up with a 2007 male from Mull.

Source: ScottishRaptorStudyGroup.org

However, the eagles had a tendency to lose these over time and so from 2008 colour rings have again been used.
Originally birds were colour-ringed, but from 1987 these were replaced by coloured wing tags which were easier for members of the public to notice, identify and, hopefully, report. However, the eagles had a tendency to lose these over time and so from 2008 colour rings have again been used. Source: Nature.Scot
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