A total of 19 white-tailed sea eagles have been released into the wild from a secret location in Fife.
The magnificent birds of prey the UK’s largest arrived from Norway in June for the fourth year of the East Scotland Sea Eagle reintroduction project, a partnership scheme between RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland.
Since their arrival, the birds have been reared in specially-built aviaries until they were old enough to fledge.
They will join Scotland’s growing white-tailed eagle population and help restore this species to parts of their former range in the east of Scotland.
Claire Smith, RSPB Scotland East Coast Sea Eagle project officer, says a diet of pike, haddock and roe deer has helped ensure the birds are fit and ready for life in the wild.
“Each bird has been fitted with a radio and wing tags so both project staff and the public can follow their progress.
“Already we receive many calls from the public thrilled to have seen a sea eagle on the east coast.
“Since the start of the east coast project in 2007, the survival of the released birds has been good.
“We now expect that in the next few years some of our older birds will begin to set up territory on the east coast of Scotland and one day produce chicks of their own.”
Susan Davies, SNH’s director of policy and advice, says that with it being the International Year of Biodiversity it is particularly pleasing to see the current efforts to restore the sea eagle population.
“These new recruits will help ensure that this impressive bird’s future, as an important part of Scotland’s biodiversity, is secured.”
Charlie Taylor, Forestry Commission Scotland’s district manager in Tayside, says once a white-tailed eagle is spotted in flight they are never forgotten.
“The reintroduction programmes are very important and have been a success story so far. Hopefully, in time, everyone will be able to enjoy watching these birds on the east coast of Scotland,” he said.