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 15 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 on an island with over 300 miles of coastline and 338 square miles of upland there appears to be areas of 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.

The breeding success of the previous year on Mull was repeated in 2010, contributing enormously to yet another landmark in the continuing success story that is the White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Scheme. The Scottish breeding total soared past the magical 50 pairs milestone with 52 pairs raising a total of 46 fledglings, a significant increase of six pairs and ten young on the already impressive 2009 totals. These figures represent a higher young per pair ratio than at any time in the current 35-year history of the reintroduction programme.

Despite the violent, unseasonal storms of May, 2011 proved to be the best year on record for the Isle of Mull's White-tailed Eagles : a total of 11 chicks were raised by 15 pairs. Similarly, the Scottish population soared to greater heights, with 57 territorial pairs (accounting for 43 fledged eaglets), an increase of 10% on the previous year's figure.

'Operation Easter', the Mull Eagle Watch partnership, set up to protect the island's White-tailed Eagles during crucial stages in their breeding season, celebrated its 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 celebrated 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 its 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.