A reintroduction initiative led by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation has achieved its fourth consecutive year of successful fledging by white-tailed eagle chicks in England. Two of the five eagle pairs that were released through the program successfully bred this year, producing three chicks that have now fledged from nests located in Dorset and Sussex regions.
Since the project began in 2019, a total of nine birds have been born in the wild, representing significant progress toward the goal of restoring the species to England. The foundation has described this year’s breeding attempts as “remarkable,” and noted that one of the male breeding birds successfully raised young despite having lost a leg five years ago.
Historically, human persecution led to the extinction of white-tailed eagles in England, with the last breeding pair documented in southern England in 1780. Restoring the species requires sustained effort and broad community support, according to project leaders. Steve Egerton-Read, the white-tailed eagle project officer for Forestry England, indicated that the organization will continue monitoring the three fledged chicks as they explore their habitat.
The program has expanded its scope, with a record 56 young white-tailed eagles released to date. Earlier this year, the initiative released six additional birds at Exmoor National Park in a new partnership with the Exmoor National Park Authority, marking the first time releases have occurred at that location.
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