White-tailed eagles, the UK’s largest bird of prey, were once widespread along the south coast of England, but were driven to extinction by persecution that began in the Middle Ages. The last pair known to have bred in England were on Culver Cliff on the Isle of White, back in 1780.
In Scotland, there are currently 180 pairs of these magnificent birds with a further 10 pairs in Ireland. Since 2019 the Roy Dennis Foundation and Forestry England have been working to establish them in England, through a reintroduction project based on the Isle of Wight. Over the last five years, 37 young eagles relocated from Scotland have been released. Last year, a pair successfully bred and there were a further two chicks in 2024.
All the released eagles have been fitted with satellite transmitters, providing detailed data on their location, behaviour and feeding patterns. Although most of the birds have remained around the IOW, several youngsters have flown as far as the West Country, Scotland and even mainland Europe. The data shows that the survival rate of young birds is roughly 48%, the causes of death ranging from two cases of poisoning, avian influenza, and train and powerline strikes.
Since 2019, seven White-tailed eagles have spent extended periods of time on Exmoor. In particular, a female bird, G405, lingered around Warren Farm, out on the Chains, much to the delight of the farmer, Andrew Hawkins. The extensively wooded coast of Exmoor, with abundant available fish such as mullet and sea bass, provides an ideal breeding habitat and there is strong evidence to show that White-tailed eagles bred here in the past. Consequently, there is now a proposal to extend the project, by working in partnership with Exmoor National Park Authority, that will result in future releases in this area, pending the necessary licenses.
Although there is some concern from farmers, there are no instances of White-tailed eagles taking live lambs in their European range, though there have been cases in Scotland, but this may be due to a lack of alternative food. The eagles develop a preference for fish in their diet as they mature, rising from <10% at 1 year old to approximately 35% at 5 years. Small mammals are a major part of the diet when young, but this significantly decreases over time. They also eat other birds, particularly corvids (rooks, crows and jackdaws), and wetland species, such as mallard. If you would like to find out more, please use the links below.
Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation
Exmoor National Park Authority
Article: Nigel Hester
Image: John Dickenson
