White-tailed eagles are set to be reintroduced to the Lake District after being driven to extinction 300 years ago
White-tailed eagles, or white-tailed eagles, were once widespread along the entire south coast of England, from Cornwall to Kent, before being driven to extinction by brutal 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 massive declines in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries and was threatened with extinction in Britain, mainly due to persecution.
It has since been reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland and more recently to the east coast, and a reintroduction program is currently underway in Ireland.
As with many birds of prey, the species suffered massive losses in the 1950s and 1960s due to organochlorine pesticides such as DDT, which caused eggshell thinning.
The last pair bred at Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight in 1780.
Following the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles in Scotland – where there are now more than 130 breeding pairs – the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation obtained licenses from Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage to begin an English reintroduction.
In Great Britain, sea eagles are strictly protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
It is an offense to intentionally capture, injure or kill a white-tailed eagle, or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young.
Intentionally or recklessly disturbing birds near their nest during the breeding season is also a punishable offense.
Violation may result in a fine of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months.
Despite this, threats still exist. The main current threat in Britain is persecution, mainly through poisoning, something which has overshadowed otherwise successful reintroduction programmes.
Illegal egg collecting remains an additional threat.
In Scotland, Mull, Skye and parts of the north-west Highlands are the best places to see sea eagles.
Many parts of southern England are able to support the breeding and wintering of sea eagles, but the Isle of Wight was considered the most suitable location for the reintroduction.
It is the last known breeding ground of the species in southern England and is close to very suitable feeding areas in the Solent and surrounding estuaries.
It also has numerous potential nesting sites in forests and cliffs and quiet areas for immature birds.
And it is well positioned to facilitate the spread of eagles both west and east along the coast to locations such as Poole Harbor in Dorset and Pagham Harbor in West Sussex.
Source: Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation/RSPB