Six young white-tailed eagles have been released on Exmoor as part of a major rewilding project.
The six eagles, which will grow to have a wingspan up to two-and-a-half-metres, will be joined by up to 14 others who will be released over a three year period.
The predators, sometimes nicknamed “flying barn doors” due to their size, were once wide-spread across England but were hunted into extinction 200 years ago.
The releases are part of a project started in 2019 by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to restore the lost species, and the key role it plays in supporting biodiversity, to England.
One of the released eagles on the feeding table(Image: Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Exmoor National Park Authority)
Since then, 45 white-tailed eagles have been released from the Isle of Wight.
Several are now breeding and in 2023 the project celebrated the first white tailed eagle chick to be born in the wild in southern England since 1780.
Stephen Egerton-Read, Project Officer for Forestry England said: “It is incredible to be returning this once lost species back to England. Seven years into the project we can see just how well the eagles are settling along the south coast of England and the really positive reaction the public have to seeing them back.
“These additional releases on Exmoor will help to boost the population and expand their geographic range into the south west ensuring many more people can see these amazing birds and are inspired by seeing nature return in this way.”
The six young birds were collected under a NatureScot licence from the wild in Scotland and brought to Exmoor(Image: Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Exmoor National Park Authority)
Back in May when it was announced that the eagles would be released on Exmoor, Natural England, the Government’s wildlife licensing authority, said some stakeholders raised concerns about the project, especially around livestock predation.
Natural England explained that they “understand that there are genuine fears” but from six years of monitoring the eagles there was “no recorded feeding on lambs or other livestock.”
Forestry England say a comprehensive feasibility study and public surveys were conducted before reintroducing the birds and a steering group made up of local organisations and members of the community has met and is helping to guide the project.
Ali Hawkins, Senior Ecologist with Exmoor National Park Authority, said: “This is such an exciting moment for Exmoor and a real boost to biodiversity in the National Park, as white-tailed eagles play a crucial role in both marine and land-based ecosystems. We‘d like to thank all representatives taking part in the steering group and we will continue to work closely with the local community as the project progresses.”
Before being released the birds were fitted with satellite trackers so their progress can be closely monitored by the project team.
It is expected that the young eagles will travel widely across the UK and potentially into Europe before returning to the area to breed when they are four or five years old.