Boost To Landmark Conservation Project Returning White-Tailed Eagles To England

The return of white-tailed eagles to southern England is set to receive a major boost this summer, with additional birds to be released as part of the landmark conservation project centred on the Isle of Wight.

Natural England has approved plans for more of the iconic birds of prey to be released, expanding the scheme beyond the Isle of Wight to include Exmoor National Park.

White-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, are Britain’s largest bird of prey, boasting wingspans of up to 2.5 metres.

Once widespread across England, the species became extinct due to human persecution, with the last known breeding pair in southern England recorded in 1780.

The project is led by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, with releases on the Isle of Wight having started in 2019.

Under the new plans, up to 20 young eagles will also be released from Exmoor over the next three years in partnership with Exmoor National Park Authority.

Releases will continue on the Isle of Wight at the same time.

Project leaders say the extra releases will help strengthen the growing population and expand the birds’ breeding range across southern and south-west England.

Exmoor was selected after tracking data from existing birds showed the area was regularly visited and offered suitable habitat.

Historically, white-tailed eagles were also known to breed along the Exmoor coastline.

So far, 45 young eagles have been released from the Isle of Wight project base. Four pairs have successfully established territories along the south coast.

The project celebrated a major milestone in 2023 when the first pair successfully bred in the wild, producing the first white-tailed eagle chick born in England for more than 240 years.

Since then, a further five chicks have been born in the wild.

Roy Dennis OBE, founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, said the species was once a “common sight” in England and described the expansion of the project as an exciting next step.

Stephen Egerton-Read, White-Tailed Eagle Project Manager at Forestry England, said the birds were now beginning to successfully return to the English landscape by forming pairs, establishing territories and breeding.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds described the return of the birds to Exmoor as a “powerful example” of efforts to reverse the decline of nature.

The reintroduction programme forms part of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and follows the announcement of £90 million in funding for species recovery projects across England.

All released birds are fitted with satellite tags to allow conservationists to monitor their movements and study their progress.

Birds used in the programme are collected from wild nests in Scotland under licence from NatureScot.