Introduction of White-Tailed Eagles to Cumbria is being explored right now
For the last couple of years the Cumbrian White-Tailed Eagle (often known as sea eagle) Project has been exploring the possibility of bringing white-tailed eagles back to Cumbria – see https://lifescapeproject.org/projects/white-tailed-eagles/ The organisations involved include the University of Cumbria, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, The Lifescape Project, RSPB, the Wildland Institute, the Lake District National Park Authority alongside local estate owners and managers. Both the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy include white-tailed eagles in their lists of priority species for nature recovery.
Pre-feasibility study
In 2023 the University of Cumbria undertook a species pre-feasibility study – see https://lifescapeproject.org/uploads/final-wte-pre-feasibility-report-uoc-2022.pdf This work suggests there is suitable habitat in Cumbria, mostly in the areas around the lakes and the estuaries in the southern half of Cumbria. It seems there is plenty for white-tailed eagles to eat as they are generalist predators and scavengers feeding on fish, birds and mammals. However, the study has little to say about the experiences emerging from Scotland where the livelihoods of sheep farmers and crofters in certain areas are being devasted by White-Tailed Eagle predation of lambs and sometimes adult sheep see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrlvvgejnxo
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Consultation with farmers hastily arranged and not good enough
The project is now undertaking a social feasibility study to explore what local people think about having white-tailed eagles back in Cumbria. Last Autumn they ran some online and in-person events. As they were not widely advertised, few people turned up to find out more and hardly any farmers knew about it.
The NFU in consultation with local farming organisations requested specific consultation meetings for farmers. The project organisers hastily arranged four meetings for the end of January but restricted entry to 8 famers per meeting. We attended one of these meetings. We clearly stated our doubts and concerns about the whole reintroduction process. Amongst other questions we asked if the southern part of Cumbria can truly meet white-tailed eagles’ needs? How would this affect the Herdwick breed given the concentration of Herdwick sheep in this part of the Lakes? Could the significant visitor numbers and unmanaged tourism have negative impacts on species reintroduction? Could a lack of prey mean that they might predate on lambs and possibly ewes? Would there be mitigation measures and economic compensation for sheep farmers?
Not a done deal yet, but beware
It appears there is still a long way to go and the introduction of white-tailed eagles is not a done deal. But we all need to keep an eye what happens next, attend meetings and have our say. Decisions on white-tailed eagle reintroduction should not be done behind closed doors and must balance conservation goals with the needs of local communities and be guided by science, environmental, social and economic sustainability.
We will try to keep you informed of what happens next and please have your say.