Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham today (Tuesday 7th July) visited a secret location near Tayside to learn more about the important contribution that Scotland’s forests can make to strengthening biodiversity.
Ms Cunningham visited an aviary on Forestry Commission Scotland land that is acting as temporary accommodation for the latest 15 sea eagle chicks – part of the East Scotland Sea Eagle (ESSE) project – that were flown in from Norway last week.
The project - a partnership between RSPB, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) – is the last phase of over 30 years of work to restore a Scotland-wide population of sea eagles.
Ms Cunningham said:
“Scotland’s forests deliver economic and social benefits to communities and businesses across the country but they are also a tremendous resource for our biodiversity.
“Playing an important role in ambitious reintroduction programmes, such as ESSE, our forests make a direct contribution to the richness of our natural heritage and to the continued growth of the eco-tourism sector.
“This has been a tremendously successful project and I congratulate and applaud the partnership’s efforts to revive the fortunes of this incredible bird.”
The sea eagle chicks - the latest batch being reared during this ESSE project – were collected in Norway when they were 5 – 8 weeks old.
During their time at the aviary, the chicks will acclimatise to their new home, fledge and have their health monitored – all with as little human contact as possible. They will be released into the wild when they are 11 – 14 weeks old.
Charlie Taylor, for the Commission in Tay Forest District, said:
“Managing forests to provide a wide range of habitats for a huge number of animal and bird species is an important part of the Commission's work.
“Being able to contribute to the successful reintroduction of these awe inspiring birds really is something special.
"To date we've hosted around 40 sea eagle chicks here in the District a part of this programme and are very pleased to welcome this year's new arrivals.
“With the expertise and invaluable support of RSPB and SNH, it’s been a real partnership effort. We’re all delighted at how well the birds have taken to life in East Scotland.”
Sea eagles were hunted to extinction in Scotland during the early years of the last century. As a result of ESSE and earlier reintroduction programmes, there are estimated to be around 200 individuals resident in Scotland, including over forty breeding pairs.
The most recent confirmed locations where the sea eagles have settled includes Midlothian, Fife, Angus and west Perthshire, with four birds sharing a communal roost site near Perth.
NOTES
1) Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and manages the 667,000 hectare national forest estate. The Commission’s woodlands make a positive contribution to the well being of Scotland’s people, the health of Scotland’s biodiversity and the strength of Scotland’s economy. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
2) All birds are individually marked with wing tags or colour rings and are fitted with radio backpacks that allow their movements to be monitored for up to five years. The birds will start to establish territories and pair up when they are 3-5 years old. Some birds can lay eggs and fledge young at four years old, but most breeding starts at about 5 years.
3) The White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) was once a familiar sight throughout Britain. However, as a result of persecution and changes in their natural habitats their numbers declined rapidly throughout the 19th century. By 1900 only a handful remained on the west coast of Scotland and in 1918 they became extinct. In 1975, a full scale reintroduction programme commenced, run jointly by SNH and RSPB Scotland based on Rum National Nature Reserve, and the birds have gradually dispersed over the west of Scotland.
4) Scottish Natural Heritage is the Scottish Government's advisor on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. Its role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland's nature now and in the future. For more information visit www.snh.org.uk
Media Enquiries
Paul Munro - Forestry Commission Scotland press office - 0131 314 6507