Isle of Wight white-tailed eagle project celebrates chick

The baby has fledged from a nest somewhere in the south - the result of the Island-based project led by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation.

A breeding pair of birds, aged just three years old, reared their male chick earlier this year.

The location of their nest, which is on private land and which has no public access, is not being disclosed for welfare reasons - the birds might return to breed at the same location in the coming years.

How big are white-tailed eagles?

• White-tailed eagles are Britain’s largest birds of prey.
• They have a wingspan of up to 2.5m and were once widespread across England.

The chick has been ringed and fitted with a satellite tag, so the team can track his daily progress.

Historically, the last breeding pair in southern England lived at Culver Cliff, in 1780.

Then, in 2019, Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation began their Isle of Wight reintroduction programme.

In recent years, 25 white-tailed eagles have been released here, under licence from Natural England, the Government’s wildlife licensing authority and 16 still survive.

Young birds are collected under a NatureScot licence from the wild in Scotland and brought to the Isle of Wight.

Many thought it was impossible - Roy Dennis

Roy Dennis MBE, Founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, said: "This is a very special moment.

"Restoring a breeding population in southern England has been our ultimate goal.

"Many thought it was impossible but we knew food for eagles - fresh and salt water fish, cuttlefish, rabbits, hares and wild birds - was plentiful.

"I visited the Isle of Wight as a young birdwatcher in the 1950s, saw the last breeding location, at Culver Cliff and knew they should be restored.

"It is early days, but this is a very significant milestone and we are heartened by the enthusiastic support shown by so many people and that the sight of these huge eagles in the sky inspires hope for restoring nature.

"We still have a long way to go, but the feeling of seeing the first pair reach this stage is truly incredible."

Hard to put into words just what an incredible moment this is!

Steve Egerton-Read, White-Tailed Eagle Project Officer for Forestry England, said: "We are thrilled that this moment has happened and at such an early stage in the project. 

"At only three years old, it is remarkable that the pair have successfully bred, with most white-tailed eagles not attempting to do so until they are at least four or five.

"It is really hard to put into words just what an incredible moment this is for the return of these iconic birds to England."

A further release of young white-tailed eagles is planned for later this summer from the project team’s base on the Isle of Wight.