Two white-tailed eagle chicks have fledged from a nest in southern England.
The chicks, both males, were reared by a pair of white-tailed eagles released as part of a project by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return this lost species to the English countryside.
Last year, the same parent birds – known as G405 (female) and G471 (male) – successfully raised a single male chick (G625). It was the first white-tailed eagle to be born in southern England since 1780.
“We have spent the last few months closely watching this pair of eagles, hoping that they would successfully breed again this year," says Steve Egerton-Read, White-Tailed Eagle Project Officer for Forestry England.
"Things looked promising throughout the spring, but you never know if they will ultimately be successful. When we first saw two chicks appear in the nest it was tremendously exciting! For both to make it to fledging demonstrates the abundance of food in this landscape and the suitability of southern England for these birds."
The two chicks (G636 and G637) have been fitted with satellite tags so that the project team can track their progress over the coming years.
White-tailed eagles were once widespread across England, but human persecution led to a dramatic decline and ultimately their extinction, with the last breeding pair recorded in southern England in 1780.
"When we first saw two chicks appear in the nest it was tremendously exciting!"
In 2019, Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation began reintroducing these iconic birds to the English landscape.
“Restoring a breeding population in southern England, where the species was once widespread, has been our ultimate goal," says Roy Dennis OBE, Founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation.
"So, to see this second year of breeding success is really encouraging. It is still early days, but this is a very significant milestone."
From the birds released as part of the project, four pairs have now formed and established territories in southern England. The team hopes that these other pairs will breed in future years.
“Restoring lost species like white-tailed eagles is a critical element in nature recovery and a key part of Forestry England’s work within the nation’s forests," says Egerton-Read.
"We hope this project can help inspire the restoration of our natural heritage. We will continue to work to re-establish these birds as a breeding species across the region, with the aim that future generations will be able to enjoy seeing them as a regular sight in the skies above where they live.”
So far, 37 white-tailed eagles have been released by the reintroduction project, including eight this summer on the Isle of Wight.
Those working on the project say the three chicks, born last year and this year, provide hope for the future. "This success demonstrates our ability to restore nature, including very large iconic species; nature recovery requires even greater effort from us all," says Dennis.
Forestry England have said that "the location of this year’s nest, on private land with no public access, is not being disclosed for the welfare of the birds and to prevent any disturbance to them or the landowner either this year or if the birds return to breed at the same location."
Words: Daniel Graham
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