White-Tailed Eagles on the Isle of
Mull
Epicentre of White-Tailed Eagle
Activity
Mull Stronghold for New
Millennium
 Wandering immature birds from the successful
re-introduction programme on Rum began to appear on the Isle of
Mull in the early 1980’s. Nest building was first noticed on the
island in 1982, with the first unsuccessful breeding attempt
confirmed the following year.
After several frustrating attempts,
the first White-tailed Eagle chick to fledge from a Scottish (UK)
eyrie in 70 years did so on the Isle of Mull in 1985. Breeding has
occurred every year since, with 10 pairs now established on the
island. Local experts suggest that this figure may represent
something close to saturation level for Mull’s White-tailed Eagle
population, although there does appear to be further areas of
potentially suitable territory still to be occupied.
10 pairs of
White-tailed Eagle raised 10 young on Mull in 2009, equalling the
best season on record since these magnificent raptors returned to
breed on the island. Had one of the two chicks that hatched at the
flagship Loch Frisa location on the island not succumbed then it
would have been an even greater success story to tell. In total,
46 pairs of White-tailed Eagle bred successfully in Scotland in
2009, raising 36 young. It is now possible to see over 200
White-tailed Eagles in Scotland, thanks to the success of the
various phases of the reintroduction programme.
'Operation
Easter', the Mull Eagle Watch partnership, set up to protect the
island's White-tailed Eagles during crucial stages in their
breeding season, celebrates it's 25th anniversary in 2010. This
multi-agency organisation comprises Forestry Commission Scotland,
RSPB Scotland, Mull and Iona Community Trust, Scottish Natural
Heritage, Strathclyde Police, as well as the dedication and
commitment of a large number of local volunteers, who willingly
give their time, effort and expertise to help ensure the success
of this operation.
The flagship
public viewing hide, overlooking the Loch Frisa nest, also
celebrates an important milestone in 2010. It is 10 years since
this innovative collaboration between Forestry Commission Scotland
and RSPB Scotland commenced. Over 6,000 visitors to the Isle of
Mull attend the Loch Frisa hide every year to see the most famous
White-tailed Eagles in the world, in turn fuelling the local
economy by around £2 million.
The Isle of Mull continues to cement it's reputation as a
stronghold in the recovery of the White-tailed Eagle in the UK and
as the epicentre for the viewing of these majestic predators in
Scotland. |
