The proposal to reintroduce (ie put back) white-tailed eagles into East Anglia is stirring up controversy amongst land owners in Suffolk.
The Country Landowners Association says it has concerns about the impacts of these predatory birds on livestock, game shoots and wildlife.
There is no doubt that these magnicent birds of prey are predators - that wickedly powerful beak and those strong talons are not the equipment needed by any vegetarian bird. Eagles eat flesh, often when it is still warm, bloody and freshly killed (or still dying). What do they eat? To get an idea we should look at what their diets in other parts of the world where they are much commoner - places like eastern Europe for example.
White-tailed eagles eat a very large range of species - carrion, plenty of fish, birds and small mammals (here, here, and here, are links to European accounts of the birds and their diets). It's difficult to find evidence that they cause problems to livestock in any parts of the word where they occur - in fact they seem a bit lazy in their habits! Fish and birds seem to make up most of their diet in most areas - mammals mentioned are often small mammals or rodents. So what are the numerous and easy prey available for these magnificent birds in coastal Suffolk? Rabbits, fish in the estuaries, lots of ducks and no doubt the odd pheasant too. It couldn't be, could it, that the main worry of many CLA members is whether their pheasant shoots may suffer some losses from eagles? Wouldn't it be a bit odd if the reintroduction of a native species were put on hold because of worries about its impacts on non-native gamebirds reared to be shot for sport? Having said that, the impacts would be tiny I think.
If anything, I would have thought that fish farms should worry most about these birds but studies in Estonia suggest that losses of fish to eagles (and osprey) are negligible - in fact any landowner who had white-tailed eagles regularly fishing at a water body they own would be mad not to cash in to the spectacle and make their money from tourists wanting to see the birds! The Loch Garten ospreys are worth an estimated annual £1.5m to the local economy and they are only present in the summer months and we can't lay on reliable views of them catching fish!
And what about the impacts on other wildlife? I have some concerns about them deciding to switch to a diet of avocets, stone curlews and bitterns but then these are the issues that Natural England will have to assess when deciding whether to issue a licence for the reintroduction. In those parts of the world where white-tailed eagles are common they aren't seen as pests or dangers to native wildlife and that should be a reassuring guide to what they might get up to in East Anglia. All these matters are being looked at now as part of the consultation and planning process.
The American bald eagle is a close relative of the white-tailed eagle - and of course an iconic US species. I can't find much evidence of conflicts ( but see here and here) between bald eagles and either wildlife (bald eagles seem to be a bit mean to ospreys sometimes) or economic interests - but I'd be interested to hear of them if there are such instances. I do remember some years ago lunching in a restaurant with staff from National Audubon Society in New England and seeing bald eagles in the sky above the town - and thinking how great it would be if one could sit outside a pub in East Anglia with a pint of decent beer, a nice meal and watch eagles overhead. In fact, many people would seek out those pubs, cafes, B&Bs, hotels and holiday cottages which could give them views of eagles withing a couple of hours drive of London throughout the year.
And that may be one of the reasons why the Suffolk Coasts and Heath AONB partnership voted in favour of the reintroduction scheme earlier this month. Taking a broader perspective of such a charismatic bird this group saw the overall value, both economic and spiritual, of returning eagles to places where they will thrive. And obscured by the brouhaha stirred up by some landowners is the fact that an as yet unpublished survey of the public apparently shows overshelming support for the restoration of this bird back to coastal Suffolk.
My previous blog was about bird flu - and there is a link! Fears of mass mortality due to bird flu appear to have been misfounded (but maybe it's too early to say) and led to all sorts of anti-wildlife pronouncements suggesting that wild birds should be culled. Isn't it odd that we often act as though nature is our enemy? If we hadn't exterminated white-tailed eagles from England a few centuries ago it is difficult to imagine that the CLA would be campaigning to cull them now - even if they were to eat a few pheasants. And do CLA members go to Poland and wring their hands at the damage that white-tailed eagles are doing to the local economy there? Of course not - opposition to eagles in Suffolk is based largely on fear of the unknown, concerns about whether game shoots might be affected, perhaps worries over whether releasing radio-tagged eagles might uncover illegal poisons being used and, I fear, a deep-seated suspicion and fear of the natural world.
Am I completely happy with the idea? About 90% happy! The 90% is because restoration of lost species and lost habitats is such a key part of nature conservation that this seems a very logical and positive thing to do, it's a wonderful bird which has been missing for too long and elsewhere in its range is loved and admired rather than demonised. Why the 10% doubt? Well, there are, I recognise, some real uncertainties about what might happen. I'm a bit ashamed of the 10% - do those deep-seated fears of wildlife run through my veins too?
But, cards on the table, taking everything into account, am I in favour of reintroducing white-tailed eagles to East Anglia? Yes!
Hi Mark,agree with most of what you say but don't bank on seeing them as for such huge birds they are quite lazy and if can find carrion will soon fill up and just rest up..My guess is that there are about 40 on Mull and you have to work quite hard to see one,hence the popularity of Loch Frisa hide.
My concerns are more about whether when they do nest East Anglia has the resources to protect them as surely every enemy of Sea Eagles in the country will be having a go at their nests and it is a massive job even on Mull which being a smallish island they are able to check all visitors.My other concern is that I believe occasionally a pair take a liking to one particular breed of bird for food and if this was Cranes,Bitterns or other rare birds it would be a disaster.One big disadvantage that East Anglia would have is that on Mull the Eagles have lots of dead Sheep,Deer and when Deer culling they leave the offall on the ground for them,this seems very important to get them through the first winter especially and I couldn't see any of that happening on the mainland so I am hoping if the plan goes ahead they have a master plan for this.
Really positive thought that it may stop illegal poisoning,what a bonus that would be.
Certain you should not be ashamed of 10% uncertainty I certainly see that as a very good thing.
Personally I don't think they are likely to be a problem to any of the farmed animals,pets or game birds just slight worry about outdoor pigs when they have small young.
I would love to see these birds established everywhere but fancy the protection costs would be huge and losses quite severe as considering say we have had roughly 25 years of re-introduction with considerable numbers coming from Norway and lots of breeding pairs for several years the fact that we have approximately 200 means I think that losses are very large and I would love some expert to comment on that aspect as perhaps I am wrong but being cynical feel the losses are kept shall we say quite as opposed to hidden.If it goes ahead good luck to RSPB,Natural England and especially the Sea Eagles.
Hi Mark, a couple of slightly dyspeptic posts; did the turkey disagree with you?
I'm always a little suspicious of the motives when 'conservationists' want to 'rewild' or 'reintroduce'. Who's to say what species 'should' and 'shouldn't' be here, and what gives this or that person or organisation the right to play God? I don't trust Paul Lister or the RSPB, or anyone in-between, to play with our wildlife like it was their personal train set - although I can quite see the appeal of a lynx or a sea-eagle as the wildlife equivalent of the Hornby Double-O Flying Scotsman.
One thing that worries me about the sea eagles is that it's a one-way street. Regardless of whether the eagles used to be here, the environment has changed since and we cannot predict their impact with any certainty. If the eagles cause unexpected harm (to biodiversity, farming interests or, for that matter game shooting) can we turn the clock back? If I was issuing these licences, I'd want a condition that allowed the birds to be eradicated if, 5 years on, it proved to have been a bad idea.
I think you're wrong about the 'deep seated fears of wildlife'. Deep seated fears about those who claim to speak for it is nearer the mark. Especially when they seem to delight in using sea eagles as a sharp stick to taunt other interested parties.
If this does happen it will be amazing.
we might get some fly over Essex at some point lol
Jamesm -Hi! Good to see you here again! Rather than the people putting wildlife back, surely it is the people who got rid of that wildlife in the first place who used wildlife as their 'personal train set'? Reintroductions of species, to me, are a bit like carefully reassembling a precious delicate piece of glassware that someone else has clumsily smashed. But you make some good points, and make them well - thank you. I'm interested in the 'what if they do harm?' argument - at least 10% interested!
Sooty - you seem to be warming to the idea! The difference between Mull and Suffolk (or at least one difference) is that there will be plenty of ducks, geese and rabbits around in the winter in Suffolk. Glad that you don't think that damage to livestock is much of an issue.
Hawkbuzzard - looking forward to seeing them over London at some stage!
Mark,one thing helped to make me a bit warm to the idea funnily enough was the fact that you have a 10% doubt which I found reassuring,hope the other people pushing for this have similar.I am sure that Sea Eagles do kill things but from what I have seen on Mull much prefer the easy carrion if available.I am no expert but suspect that of raptors they would have the smallest % of live prey in their diet by choice,probably taking live prey when feeding young.Perhaps relevant to point out the fact that they eat lots of carrion would make them really easy to poison but obviously RSPB expert would have already pointed this out.
Mark, Thank you for this interesting entry and the various links that help to understand the issues. This is the first occcasion when I am not totally sure about this and whilst I am as willing to watch 'barn doors' as the next person I think my concern on this occasion is not about the impact of the bird or even the impact on the bird by landowners. I have come to the conclusion that my reticence is more about the possible PR own goal. Before any decision is finally made I do think that NE should fully explore the concerns being made by landowners. Having said that, would I like to see them, of course I would. The youngster we had on the Hants / Wiltshire border recently did exist for several months on a shoot with active support of the owner. Bob
Hello, Mark (Happy New Year -nearly!)
It's not that I'm against the reintroduction of such species as the white-tailed eagles -I'd love to see one- but I think the cost and resources that will be needed would be far better used in protecting the species we've already got! Nowhere near enough is being done to support our wildlife at local level. I don't mean on big reserves like the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts have, but in our towns and villages. Once we've 'joined up the dots' and connected all good habitats by wildlife 'motorways' and every single place in Britain has a wildlife refuge (for wildlife-not people!) then we can turn to reintroductions.
Hi Mark,think Taffy2 has a very good point and perhaps as well as asking in a poll if people would like to see Sea Eagles in East Anglia they should have added at a cost of £500,000.This is assuming bringing in something like 200 youngsters say 20 each year for 10 years.Now if these figures are miles out then RSPB and Natural England need to explain where they are wrong and give us all a list of costs.There are no revenues to set against it because other places where Sea Eagles are getting established are giving management fees to certain parties and giving to schools and communities to I suspect keep them on board for protecting them and goodwill.One thing I feel sure of is that East Anglia is completely different to the other areas where they are and feel certain that for the first winter food would have to be provided,it would surely be unfair to expect these birds with no help from parents to feed themselves until they had chance to learn necessary skills.(Would be interested what an expert like Dave Sexton thought on the last point).Perhaps not a fair point and must admit we are guilty but the pollution from chasing around looking for them all adds to climate change,Significant part of East Anglia is below sea level as the area I grew up in relies on pumping water out to stop it being flooded.Climate change must be important for the fens.
I don't know that we would be playing 'God' reintroducing Sea Eagles. surely it was US and OUR actions that erradicated them in the first place not a changing environment. Yes , in recent years the environs, where they naturally were have changed but don't think that should be a reason for saying aw well we'll naw bother. Do it, but let them get on with it themselves instead of all the interventions. Galloway Red Kite Project annoys me. How many years on are we and still they flock to the feeding station daily to be fed. Wonderful to see and great numbers and it brings the public but how can it be called succesful. They're like pets.
Hi Mark here we go,remember you said you knew the right questions to ask,I seem to have loads of questions at the moment and Susan above brings another.The Red Kite has been a huge success but like the feeding station Susan mentions,the one at Gigrin farm even more so,does feeding these birds mean that they don't spread out and massive amounts of the southern parts of England are perhaps denied seeing them as they are certainly very rare.
Perhaps even a fault I wonder of RSPB getting income from large numbers where you can pay to see them or is it just the problem of you start feeding them and then forced to carry on.For sure those of us in the south feel disappointed at such large numbers in certain areas and we can't even have re-introduction of Ospreys or Sea Eagles.
Sooty. Interesting questions. This is one of the areas that the RSPB is often criticised by those who think reserves etc are simply for birds only and forget the RSPB is actually a people organisation aimed at protecting and promoting birds for the benefit of the rest of us. The 'Showing people birds' programmes do more to support bird protection and raise the profile than most events and are aimed at showing off our NATURAL wildlife. I personally think you may well be right that the Kite feeding events do cause birds to hang around one area but these do not tend to be RSPB led. Certainly Gigrin is not RSPB and in that case does support the hill farmer.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 to you Mark
Kathy and Dave
The issue of how you get back control if it goes wrong is a very valid one. If they do end up taking livestock then there are some real economic losses to face, not for the whole farming community, but for those who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. How about a compensation scheme out of Stewardship money if this can be proven. have you asked Natural England?
Hi Bob, The Galloway Red Kite, is RSPB.
Do we not think farmers should again be able to leave carcasses for all these birds animals and insects to feed on and restore the ecology in the landscapes of reintroduction sites. Or, is that a whole other can of worms
Farmer,it is almost impossible to prove because they definitely take small numbers of lambs but it could easily be that the lambs were stillborn and sheep do not seem alarmed by the Eagles what I have seen.Someone saw one take a young seal to a nest but again it may have been stillborn.However I see your point.