A pair of white-tailed eagles have been reintroduced to the Isle of Wight this week for the first time in 240 years, with a further 4 eagles to be released today (Thursday).
The huge birds of prey, which can boast a wingspan of up to 8ft, were released in a secret location yesterday (Wednesday) and a further 4 will be let out into the wild this week. It is hoped that a total of 60 birds will be released over the next 5 years at a cost of £250,000.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Forestry Commission and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation have been working together to reintroduce these animals to the South and, more specifically, the Isle of Wight. The plans were originally announced in October 2018 and a licence was granted in April of this year.
It will take several years for the young birds to become established and breeding is not expected to start until at least 2024. However, over the next month or so the animals will start to disperse across the Island and will become a regular sight thereafter. During this time the birds will be closely monitored using satellite tracking devices and data on the movement of the birds will eventually be made available on the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation website.
Once the birds are well established it is hoped that viewing areas can be set up to allow visitors to observe the birds. It’s thought that the project will give a significant boost to the Island economy after a similar scheme on the Isle of Mull was found to have boosted its local economy by up to £5million a year.
White-tailed eagles were once widespread across Southern Britain until the 18th century when persecution and human activity lead to the birds being wiped out. The last known breeding place in the region was recorded at Culver Cliff near Sandown in 1780.
The news hasn’t been well received by everyone though… farmers have raised concerns about the safety of their livestock as the eagles – also known as Sea Eagles – are documented as killing young sheep and other small animals.
It’s thought that the release may have taken place on Forestry Commission land at Bouldnor on the north coast of the Island, but officials are remaining tight-lipped.
Have you spotted a white-tailed eagle? Maybe you caught the sighting on camera? Let us know by emailing [email protected].
Hear from Andrew Stringer, Head of Environment at Forestry England why white tailed eagles have been released on the Isle of Wight. #SeaEagle #WhiteTailedEagle #SeaEagleEngland #RoyDennisWildlifeFoundation pic.twitter.com/WZ7yKXMWSd
— Sea Eagle England (@SeaEagleEngland) August 22, 2019
How will this boost our economy?
Just go and check what White Tailed Eagles did for the Isle of Mull economy. They will attract millions of visitors.
I was looking to see the best places to visit so you are right
Of course it won’t. This is a completely irresponsible betrayal of wildlife and other animals these birds see as prey. Let’s hope they decide the Island is not for them and they fly north to a more suitable environment, a.s.a.p.
Nonsense – they were part of nature’s predator/prey balance along a large part of the south coast of England for hundreds, iof not thousands, of years.
They may have been once, but now the situation is completely different with farmers relying on their animals which will be taken by these birds.
Read the submissions to Natural England by the Roy Dennis Foundation.answering these concerns. In Scotland they take very few live lambs, as research has shown but lots of dead ones. The Dutch Norwegians and Poles don’t feeling this is a problem in their counyries either..
Then they turn up in droves to get the boat over to watch the birds…….
But the price scares them off
The long term objective is to have WTSEs breeding throughout Britain. Ypu can see them already without taking a boat and in the futuretbeywill be more accessible as the often nest near big cities where the right habitat exists
you are alone in your views by the look of it
This area was ‘suitable’ for them once, so why not again? After all, wasn’t it through human persecution that they disappeared in the first place? Good luck to the project, I for one cannot wait to see them flying over to the mainland.
But now the situation is completely different and the Island is not a suitable territory for them..
Obviously not. Hence why they have been re-introduced. The Roy Dennis Foundation is massively successful at re-introducing species back into places as the as the habitat supports them.
Are you against blackbirds eating worms or kingfishers preying on minnows? Are worms betrayed by people encouraging birds into their gardens? Sea eagles once bred on the IOW. As we were responsible 4 their extinction it is fitting that we bring them back When you see them in the wild I think you’ll change your mind.
I think it’s a fair enough question because how do you guarantee that the birds will even stay on the Island and not fly off to the mainland? If people are travelling to see these birds, why would they pay an extra £100 – £200 to cross over on the ferry when they could just as easily see them on the mainland? Unless, of course, there is some way of making the birds stay here.
If their diet consisted of just pigeons and rooks, then I would be happy for them to be here. Goodbye little birds and creatures :((
Are there Rooks on the Island ???
And Crows. What happened to the smaller birds?
Loads were I live
Fake news.
They are a large bird so will mostly take medium sized prey. They will eat crows and probably rooks too. They are likely to be good for small birds & animals as they will prey on their predators.
I thi k the hint is in the name they they are called sea eagles which would guess that some of their diet would consist of fish. I mean the Isle of Wight isn’t surrounded by suitable feeding g at all. Eh. They have boosted tourism by million is the western iales of Scotland over a twenty year period.
They feed on large mammals fish etc. They would not bother with small birds !
I just hope that the farmers can get the money back for the loss of lamb’s from the people who have released these birds
Farmers receive massive subsidies as it is at the moment part of the money is for environmental purposes and remote chance of losing a lamb is covered by this money
So you think the farmers can stand this loss? Suggest you become one and find out what their life is like.
Suggest you read the information supplied by Roy Dennis foundation on the diet of these Eagles and research what is happening in Holland, Poland and Germa y. Their farmers aren’t having problems. Why should ours?
Lambs do not form part of their normal diet, which is mainly water fowl and fish
prat
good to see. It was humans that caused the white tailed eagles to disappear from these shores years ago, because of self centered attitudes.
It is only fitting that humans re-introduce them and they get to regain their lost habitats again.
Why keep it secret where these birds have been released… particularly as view points will be eventually set up to see them? Probably because it is known already the devastation these creatures have the potential to do to wildlife?
Have you read anyof the literature on this . The Dutch Germans and Poles are not having problems and we are unlikely to either. The secrecy is about protecting the young birds from curious people and photographers who could jeapordise the project. Are you and Jo Bloggs the same person? You don’t read up pn the subject and are equally convinced tjere will be insuperable problems.
Our Island already has it’s own wildlife icon.
White Tailed Eagles should live very happily with Red Squirrels.
Red squirrels will make a very nice meal for a white tailed eagle as will new-born lambs and peoples pets.
You know this is not true this is another fake comment by a troll. Read the material submitted for approval and research the situation in other countries where the Eagles get along great with human beings
Goodbye red squirrels
Not part of their normal diet and unlikely to be targeted (white tailed eagles find it hard to fly between tree branches !)
I agree I think it’s an amazing thing for the iow I can’t wait to see one
Babs, white tailed eagles have a wing span of up to 8 feet! How are they going to even get in the woodland with the speed and accuracy it takes to catch a red squirrel. Their main diet is fish. You know as in sea eagle. So unless red squirrels go swimming in the sea I think they will be pretty safe.
Bad news if not fake news.What will they feed on? The Isle of Mull has 3 ferry routes like us but they are smaller. There is no way Caledonian Mcbrayne can carry millions.
Read the article again. The diet of the eagles id described and all the assessments by experts done. The refetence to mull is to millions of pounds not people .
I’m a tourist and am really looking forward to seeing them!
Our Island already has it’s own wildlife icon.
White Tailed Eagles should live very happily with Red Squirrels.
Sorry, that I meant to put – – live very happily with (AND ON) Red Squirrels.
Why not find out what they actually eat instead of speculation?
Red squirrels are not on the menu for White Tailed Eagles, as anyone who has taken the trouble to educate themselves will know. Stick to the facts, not hysteria.
Do they keep the seagulls away if so they are welcome my car as once again been splattered
They will eat seagulls so may keep them away for some areas. Whether they’ll keep them way for your car is another matter!
Too many people are jumping on the band wagon that this is a bad idea. Roy Dennis Foundation has done some fantastic work in helping multiple different species return back to places where they once were. Yes Eagles are big birds and yes they will take prey items like rabbits, fish and wading birds however they will mostly eat carrion as it’s an easy meal. The economic benefit that eagles will have on Wight in a few years will be great. Look at Isle of Mulls success as an example.
Too many people commenting about things and concerns but don’t actually know the birds. Trust me, as a bird of prey enthusiast and photographer, the site of seeing an eagle soar over the hills will take your breath away.
Atlast an educated reply
I think this is a great thing for everyone and I can’t wait to see them soaring about, what a privilege we all have to have them here.
I think there will be alot of people eating their words in a few years time when everything is all still fine.
Well said. By none given
Target practice !!!!
What about the highly expensive carp that fisheries have stocked
Just got back from Stenbury Downs and have seen a white tailed eagle flying through the valley. What a sight!!
I lived on mainland for many years when red kites were realised small birds small dogs where all attacked not a good idea for the island so much damage will be done to the small birds etc
BULL SHIT WHAT A PRAT YOU ARE
Total rot! Red kites are too lightweight to attack any breed of small dog, they rarely attack juvenile rabbits, they don’t have the weight behind them to press home that sort of attack. They are mainly scavengers and the only time you see the: on a dead rabbit is if it was dispatched by something else. As for birds, they are too slow to attack them. You are probably one of the people who blame the peregrine for the majority of racing pigeon deaths.
That’s good news
People forget the damage are normal domestic cats does to all small wild life!!i can’t wait to see them
Dog person are we?
I’m puzzled why it costs a quarter of a million Pounds to release 60 birds into the wild?
It’s cost that has gone into research, the satellite tags and other various things. Re-introducing a species is not a simple process of where you get the birds and then just send them on there way. Hence why it has taken a year for this to happen.
This has all the hallmarks of Council or Island roads. Ineptitude. Watch the price of lamb double.
Funny carp were mentioned in a earlier comment. A non native species that is bred in the millions and in some parts of the world considered a pest. I think having the eagles back is a great thing. I say give me eagles over overners anyday. I guess the eagles won’t start building second nests and driving native birds out.
There are no squirrels or foxes on the Isle of Mull! There is no way that millions can get onto the island with Caledonian Mcbrayne.
Completely irresponsible. I hope it is the pets of these idiots who released these birds that are taken.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
It seems to me people really have no idea how predator/prey relationships work. From a lot of posts on here it seems to be hysterical nonsense. Even if they did fancy a squirrel snack tell me why would a bird that size even bother trying to catch something,when it’s going to loose more energy trying to catch it than it will gain from eating it? The eagles have every right to be here. I personally think its brilliant the eagles have returned, let’s face it even if they were to eat a lamb here and there, it’s not like sheep are an endangered species. I think the same people losing their heads are the very same people who pay thousands to go on safari with the possible view of lions eating antelope. A final couple of thoughts I welcome the eagles it’s not like we have a particularly diverse amount of wildlife…..every little helps. Maybe the moaners should put there efforts into something constructive like doing something about the fires tearing through the Amazon jungle for the past 3 weeks.
I did forget even if they did fancy a squirrel they are not physically adapted to be able to do it. A bird with a wingspan that big will not get far trying to fly through woodland. Also where were are the moaners concerned about the near extinction of our white clawed crayfish. How many have them have gardens with plants that do damage to the eco system like rodedendron? Sorry if this appears as rant but I find the hypocrisy here unbelievable. Moaners objecting to a native species in which species here are adapted to live around but say nothing about other native species being wiped out by invasive species.
amen.
I saw one of these Eagles today flying from direction Shanklin Old Village towards Luccombe. It was quite large compared to the buzzards that we see. It was quite a sight. I was unaware of the release of these birds and searched in google for ‘Eagle, Isle of Wight’ and came across this article. Hopefully bird watching Island visitors will get to see them and come across in droves. Maybe start an Isle of Wight Sea Eagle festival and extend the season for our hotels.
Thank you Gerry. Coming over on Ferry this Saturday with my friend to try and see them, and will head to this location. Please keep posting here if you have anymore sightings,
Wendy