After more than 150 years, the golden eagle could be reintroduced to England. Commonly found here in medieval times, the golden eagle has since disappeared from our skies, with only a handful of pairs seen in the years since.
The last native golden eagle is thought to have died in 2015, having lived alone in the Lake District. They have occasionally been spotted in Northumberland, after crossing the border from southern Scotland, where the population of these dramatic birds of prey is growing thanks to a recent reintroduction programme.
There are already thriving populations of golden eagles in the Scottish Highlands, where they help control populations of other predators, such as foxes and crows. An official reintroduction programme began in 2018 in southern Scotland, which increased the population from a few pairs to more than 50. As part of the "South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project", three golden eagle chicks were relocated from a stronghold in the Scottish Highlands to the south of Scotland in 2018, with a further eight golden eagles transported to the area in 2021.
The decline of the species in the 19th century was largely due to habitat loss and persecution by gamekeepers and farmers, who saw them as a threat to lambs and game.
A new study by Forestry England has found that England now has the capacity to sustain populations of golden eagles once more, with the right natural environments available to them. The study suggested that it could take decades for golden eagles to naturally return to England from southern Scotland, and a carefully planned reintroduction could speed up the recovery of the species.
In response to the study, environment secretary Emma Reynolds has approved £1 million in species recovery funding to help pave the way for a programme that could lead to juvenile golden eagles being released in areas around England.
This funding comes as part of the £60 million in species recovery funding announced by Defra this month, in an effort to meet the UK’s target of halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 and reduce species extinction risk by 2042 against 2022 levels.
Eight areas around England were identified as having the greatest ecological potential to support a new population of golden eagles: the Cheviot Hills (a hill range across the Anglo-Scottish border), North Pennines, Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Bowland, South Pennines, North York Moors and the South West.
Forestry England will work with partners over the next few years to consult with stakeholders and the public, and examine local habitats, potential nesting sites and natural prey availability. The organisation has asked for interested parties to get in touch with questions, ideas or feedback on the proposed golden eagle project. Contact the project team at goldeneagleproject@forestryengland.uk.
Top image: A golden eagle on Islay, Scotland (credit: Getty Images)
