All things White-tailed Eagle (1 Viewer)

some of those pictures in the 'Behaviour Series' are amazing

RecoveringScot said:

And more:

http://www.birdphotos.dk/indexuk.htm

(several pages, including interaction with Spotted Eagle - we should be so lucky).

Click on 'Behaviour Series' on leaving Home Page.

Cheers,

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Many thanks for those.:t: I'll have a look through when less work on.

Chris

Bringing our natives back from the dead

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/features/daily-features/article2783198.ece

Belfast Telegraph, Thursday, July 19, 2007

Bringing our natives back from the dead

Northern Ireland's record of caring for endangered species has been deplorable in the past, but as Linda McKee reports, the situation is finally looking up for our many feathered and furry friends...

We've hunted and poisoned them, ripped up their habitats, pulverised them with the harvester and introduced tough new competitors.

Many of Ulster's best loved animals and plants have been driven to, or close to extinction, and despite our best efforts it's proving a struggle to turn the tide and restore those beleaguered populations.

Indeed, Northern Ireland now has the dubious boast of having the lowest bird of prey numbers of any region in the UK.

Once, Ulster's skies were home to the osprey, the golden eagle, the white-tailed eagle, the marsh harrier and the red kite - all have now died out.

The Government has identified 272 species that need urgent action to secure their future in Northern Ireland. Many face extinction, while others, such as the corn bunting, have already been lost. The corn bunting lived in coastal areas that produced a lot of cereal crops and as the crops vanished, so did the bird.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Wildlife lovers are delighted this week to learn that a number of corncrakes have been heard calling across Ulster this summer. The species went extinct in Northern Ireland in 1994 as a result of agricultural changes and so far there has been no sign of successful breeding in its former haunts - but the distinctive 'crex crex' sound of the male calling for a mate is a welcome sign that all is not lost.

Meanwhile, the red squirrel, which is gradually vanishing from each of its strongholds as it is driven out by the grey squirrel, has made a welcome reappearance in Rostrevor forest.

The Government is still mulling over plans to restore red squirrel numbers, possibly by creating special reserves where the animal still thrives.

It also plans to develop Species Action Plans for a catalogue of other species, including the Irish hare, wood cranesbill, barn owl, otter and basking shark. These will be managed by the Ulster Wildlife Trust.

Meanwhile, the RSPB is targeting particular species, including the lapwing and the yellowhammer. At present it is assessing the impact on bird populations of the projects, carried out with the assistance of farmers grant-aided by DARD's Countryside Management Scheme.

The RSPB has also launched an initiative with councils surrounding Lough Neagh aimed at restoring the tree sparrow, with 700 nest boxes erected in 14 different areas. It is also considering the possibility of reintroducing the red kite to Northern Ireland, perhaps encouraged by the success of the golden eagle project in Donegal that resulted in the hatching of the first chick in the Republic in 100 years.

However, wildlife groups have been cautious about reintroductions and indeed, the Wildlife Order includes strict rules over what species can be reintroduced into the wild.

"Only when we think a species can survive in the wild and we've done all the preparatory work, then and only then would we consider the reintroduction of a species," Paul Lynas said.

Anne-Marie McDevitt of the Department of Agriculture makes the same point.

The Department is working with farmers in the Glens and Rathlin Island to create suitable habitat for the corncrake and others. The aim is to encourage natural recolonisation.

Chris Monk said:

Will eagles land a place by the Forth?
ANDY MILNE

([email protected])

THEIR enormous, eight-foot wing-span has earned them the nickname of
the "flying barn doors".

Majestic sea eagles were regularly seen soaring above the waters of the
Firth of Forth in Victorian times. But, regarded as a pest, the birds
eventually vanished from the estuary as they were hunted to extinction
across Scotland.

Now Scottish Natural Heritage is studying sites along the Forth estuary
with a view to re-introducing the birds after a 120-year absence.

After successfully bringing sea eagles back to the west coast, SNH is
now looking to restore the eagles to places where they once thrived in
the east.

Various sites along the Forth and Tay estuaries are being examined, and
although no specific sites have yet been chosen it is hoped the project
will begin within the next year.

Andy Douse, a senior ornithologist at SNH, said the reintroduction of
the sea eagle was a forward step for Scotland.

He said: "There is no doubt that the white-tailed or sea eagle once
lived throughout Scotland.

"And following the success of the west-coast re-introduction project we
must look seriously at the possibility of an east-coast project as a
means of extending the species range."

With a white tail and eight-foot wingspan the "flying barn door" is the
fourth-largest eagle in the world.

At such a size, the sea eagle has no natural predators but was forced
into extinction in Scotland by egg stealing, poisoning and hunting.

Victorian land mangers viewed the giant bird as a pest, but in the
modern age rare birds of prey are a major boost to Scottish tourism.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said:
"For example, the ospreys of Scotland attract over 125, 000 visitors
annually who spend £2.2 million every year."

Sea eagles were re-introduced on the Isle of Mull in the 1970s and
their presence is a big pull for bird watchers.

A RSPB hide that views a pair of the sea eagles is estimated to boost
the local economy by £1.7m every year.

The RSPB spokesman said: "The sea eagle is formerly a native bird that
suffered persecution that brought local extinction.

"Reintroducing it is about re-stabilising this totemic species in
Scotland.

"In the past they were persecuted for many reasons such as egg
collecting, deemed contrary to land-management philosophy. They were
basically viewed as a pest.

"There's still a significant risk to the productivity of the birds -
people persist in trying to collect eggs."

The continuing unwanted attention of egg collectors means the birds
will require security measures if they are to survive. Therefore, the
precise location of the sites finally chosen will not - initially at
least - be made public.

The difficulty of reintroducing the birds is compounded by the fact
pairs only produce a brood of one chick each year, meaning the theft of
one egg wipes out a generation.

The birds will be introduced to the east coast by transporting young
sea eagles from Scandinavia and keeping them confined within a wild
area. Once habituated the birds will be released into the wild.

The RSPB spokesman said anyone lucky enough to catch sight of them
would not easily forget the experience.

He said: "The problem with pictures is that there's no scale. If you
see them flying in the sky, they're absolutely enormous.

"Their wings are also very wide. It's quite magnificent, it takes your
breath away."

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Hopefully be on my Loch Leven list before too long!

Court threat halts wetland destruction in Poland

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-166356

:t:

Chris Monk said:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-166356

:t:

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this is great. I hope that in the end the place will not be destroyed.
this will not only help the WTE, but also the globally threatened Greater Spotted Eagle.

Markus

Markus Jais said:

this is great. I hope that in the end the place will not be destroyed.
this will not only help the WTE, but also the globally threatened Greater Spotted Eagle.

Markus

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I read some good news articles in the national British press about the history of the conservation of the WTE in Germany over many decades.:t: Let's hope we can follow that country's example in the British Isles!

Chris Monk said:

I read some good news articles in the national British press about the history of the conservation of the WTE in Germany over many decades.:t: Let's hope we can follow that country's example in the British Isles!

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the WTE in Germany is indeed a success story. In Western Germany (before the Berlin Wall fell) we had only 3-4 pairs of WTE in the 1970s. Now we have more than 50 (or even 60) in Western Germany and about 530 (2006) in all of Germany and the population is still increasing.

Experts estimated that we will reach 700 pairs by 2015, maybe even earlier.

the biggest problem right now is lead and wind farms.
some eagles are also killed by high speed trains, as they go near the rails to pick up dead animals and when a high speed trains arrives very fast, they can't get away fast enough.

birds from Germany also recolonized Denmark and The Netherlands.

Markus

White-tailed eagle takes flight in Ireland

http://24hnews.net/Technology/White-...n-Ireland.html

Great news! :t: B

Chris Monk said:

http://24hnews.net/Technology/White-...n-Ireland.html

Great news! :t: B

Click to expand...

hi Chris

the link doesn't work. it's because of the "..." in the URL.

Markus

Chris Monk said:

http://24hnews.net/Technology/White-...n-Ireland.html

Great news! :t: B

Click to expand...

How about this? http://www.independent.ie/national-...ke-fear-in-the-hearts-of-farmers-1061070.html

Try this version of my earlier faulty link folks!

Markus Jais said:

hi Chris

the link doesn't work. it's because of the "..." in the URL.

Markus

Click to expand...

I hope this version works better for everyone! :t:

http://24hnews.net/Technology/White-tailed-eagle-takes-flight-in-Ireland.html

Cheers!B

The white eagle-eye is watching

http://www.independent.ie/farming/the-white-eagleeye-is-watching-1062897.html

21/07/08 Irish Independent story on Kerry farmers, the countryside and White-tailed Eagles by a hunt saboteur.............

White Tail

East Coast

Hi Markus a question regarding the distribution and breeding of White tailed Eagle in Germany is the population particulrly widspread or localised, is the population more restricted to upland areas and what situation do they utilise for nesting. I ask these questions as you may or not be aware that the bird is being re-intrduced across the Uk into upland and lowland habitats and obviously this will determine their nesting preferences.

And for my sins very avid listner of Rammstein.

John.

harrier olley said:

Hi Markus a question regarding the distribution and breeding of White tailed Eagle in Germany is the population particulrly widspread or localised, is the population more restricted to upland areas and what situation do they utilise for nesting. I ask these questions as you may or not be aware that the bird is being re-intrduced across the Uk into upland and lowland habitats and obviously this will determine their nesting preferences.

And for my sins very avid listner of Rammstein.

John.

Click to expand...

the major port breeds in north eastern Germany (north of Berlin in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern there are about 200 pairs. but also south and east of Berlin are many WTE. they are also spreading to the west (including 1 pair in The Netherlands).

They occur at the coast but the majority breeds a lakes and big rivers. they use old trees for nesting, mostly beech and also pine.

the population in constantly growing and experts except it to reach 700 pairs by around 2015, maybe earlier.
There are many places the WTE could recolonize, especially if it can adjust a little to higher human densities than in eastern Germany.

Markus

From the Dundee Courier and Advertiser:



Lab may study bodies of ‘sea eagle victims’

By Mark Mackay

CARCASES FROM a Perthshire farm could be scrutinised by an independent veterinary laboratory in a bid to discover what caused the deaths.

It emerged yesterday a number of animals have been killed at Boat of Forgan by Forgandenny.

Owners Hamish and Jean Campbell believe a sea eagle, such as those recently released by the RSPB and SNH, is responsible.

Since the attacks began three weeks ago, chickens, peahens, ducks and cats have been attacked.

The RSPB has said it can see no clear evidence between the deaths and its sea eagles.

A total of 15 of the large birds have been released in a bid to re-introduce the long-absent species to coastal areas in Fife and the Tay estuary.

A detailed investigation is yet to begin.

He said, “So far we see no clear evidence that one of these birds has been involved in any incident at all.

“Any investigation will take some time and will involve a number of things and that evidence may yet emerge.

“However, beyond the carcases there is presently no evidence of other mortality.”

Among those carcases are that of a large female peahen, attacked before Mr Campbell’s own eyes.

He described seeing a large bird of prey, with a wingspan of more than seven feet.

The RSPB spokesman added, “We will have to look at the carcases provided by Mr Campbell and will need to seek more information from him.

“In addition, we will have to radio check the area for evidence of the birds and we have also to get Scottish Natural Heritage involved.”

The RSPB has recovered the carcases of two birds from the Campbells’ property and it is understood they will be tested by a vet.

Not sure where to report this, but just a few things I heard on the radio today. I'm sure it will be available to podcast soon.

Apparently, a White-tailed Eagle was soaring above the Gannet colony in the Skelligs. Observers noted the yellow wing tag. The bird was a young one, and obviously a release from Killarney National Park earlier this year. Covering good ground too! Expanding territory perhaps! The shows panel of experts agreed that a Gannet would be a bit much for a young Eagle to handle. Their bill and size being principal deterrants. The bird was more than likely scavenging, but the Gannets, despite having NEVER seen an Eagle in their lifetime must have it genetically built into them that this bird wasn't a bringer of good news! The result was a mass take off of 90% of the Gannets.

One panelist gave an interesting theory concerning Fulmars too. Their defense fluid damages waterproof feathering, so the Eagles may be at risk if they decide to rely on Fulmar chicks for food. Since Fulmars were not in Ireland when the Eagles were, they have not evolved, so to speak. I think this theory is a untrue, considering in places like Norway I'd assume there are Fulmars and eagles living in proximity to each other.

Still, it was a good listen, and good news despite the opposition initially!

Mabel said:

One panelist gave an interesting theory concerning Fulmars too. Their defense fluid damages waterproof feathering, so the Eagles may be at risk if they decide to rely on Fulmar chicks for food. Since Fulmars were not in Ireland when the Eagles were, they have not evolved, so to speak. I think this theory is a untrue, considering in places like Norway I'd assume there are Fulmars and eagles living in proximity to each other.

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I think you're right to question this theory. I'm fairly sure I've read that fulmars are a very important prey item for some pairs of Scottish Sea Eagles.

dont golden eagles eat alot of fulmars too