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Golden Eagles Soar Back to England After 150-Year Absence

Summary

  • Feasibility study confirms enough suitable sites to support golden eagle reintroduction
  • Last native golden eagle in England disappeared in 2015
  • Reintroduction program in Scotland offers model for England's plans
Golden Eagles Soar Back to England After 150-Year Absence

In a remarkable turn of events, golden eagles could be set to make a triumphant return to England after an absence of over 150 years. According to a recent report, a feasibility study is expected to confirm that there are sufficient suitable sites across the country to support the reintroduction of this majestic bird of prey.

The golden eagle, with its impressive wingspan of over 2 meters, has been effectively extinct in England since the mid-19th century due to persecution from gamekeepers and farmers. The last native golden eagle, which had been living alone in a reserve in the Lake District, disappeared in 2015. However, a successful reintroduction program in southern Scotland, which has seen the population grow from just a few pairs to over 50 in recent years, is now serving as a model for England's own plans to bring back this iconic species.

While golden eagles are occasionally spotted in areas like Northumberland, these birds are believed to have come from the growing population in Scotland. Now, with the environment secretary overseeing the process, England is poised to embark on its own journey to reestablish a thriving golden eagle population, which could have a significant impact on the country's biodiversity and natural heritage.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.

FAQ

According to the article, the last native golden eagle in England disappeared in 2015, after living alone in a reserve in the Lake District.
The article states that there are thriving populations of golden eagles in the Western Isles, Hebrides, and the north of mainland Scotland, with up to 600 breeding pairs. Additionally, a reintroduction program begun in 2018 has led to the population in southern Scotland growing from just a few pairs to more than 50.
The article explains that the reintroduction process is likely to follow the model used in the successful Scottish program, where single chicks were taken from broods of two in established populations and then fed remotely with minimal human contact before being released at specially chosen sites, with food initially provided until they could hunt for themselves.

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