Sea eagles, absent from the Severn estuary for over 150 years, may soon return as wildlife charities unveil plans to reintroduce the raptors by 2026.
The estuary, which flows into the Bristol Channel between southwest England and south Wales, once hosted these majestic birds, known for their vast wingspans of up to 2.4 meters.
“Sea eagles used to be common in these regions. But they were wiped out through human persecution,” says Sophie-lee Williams, the founder of Eagle Reintroduction Wales, which is leading the project. “We strongly believe we have a moral duty to restore this lost native species to these landscapes.”
Britain’s sea eagles were hunted to extinction by the early 20th century, with the last native bird killed in Shetland in 1918. However, a successful reintroduction effort in Scotland using Norwegian birds during the 1970s and 1980s has led to a thriving population of around 152 pairs. More recently, some of these eagles were released on the Isle of Wight, where three eaglets have been reared.
To support the Severn estuary project, the team plans to source young birds from Norway for early release, which may improve their survival and adaptability. However, releasing younger birds requires careful management to prevent human imprinting, which could cause the eagles to approach people. To mitigate this, handlers will wear long robes and use bird-shaped hand puppets to feed the eaglets with chopped rabbit and other meats.
“You can look after [white-tailed eagles], but they can never see you. You have to disguise your human form at all times,” says Eric Heath, a species recovery expert at the wetlands restoration charity WWT, who is in charge of bringing the eagles to the UK.
This initiative comes as Britain faces a biodiversity crisis, with one in six species threatened with extinction. Restoring sea eagles to the Severn estuary could boost the region’s ecosystem by reestablishing them as apex predators. Their diet, primarily fish and waterfowl, may help balance local wildlife populations, benefiting struggling species.
“Eagles reduce direct competition from other fish for protected species like salmon and brown trout,” says Williams. “They also reduce predation on them by predating on the birds that eat the salmon smolts [young salmon who are adapting to salt water].”
Despite the ecological potential, reintroduction efforts have met resistance. In Scotland, farmers have reported livestock losses, leading to concerns about the eagles preying on lambs.
“There is no evidence that sea eagles take healthy, viable lambs [in Scotland]. But there is evidence of them scavenging [dead or dying] lambs,” she says.
However, studies indicate lamb remains account for just 6% of food found in Scottish sea eagle nests.
“Some farmers seem to think we are releasing this pterodactyl into the landscape, and they’re going to come and eat their breeding ewes,” she says. “That is just not the case at all. The average of their prey weight across Europe is between 0.5kg and 3kg.”
Public fears about risks to pets and even children have also been addressed—no evidence, such as pet collars, has been found in nests.
“Your pets and children are safe! They are more scared of you than you are of them.”
To ensure transparency and safety, all reintroduced eagles will be fitted with satellite tags. These will allow project teams to monitor the birds, investigate any livestock harm allegations, and protect the eagles from illegal poisoning, often associated with shooting estates.
Williams, a project leader who grew up in the Welsh valleys, dreams of watching sea eagles soar above her home. She has engaged communities through meetings and agriculture shows, where public responses to the initiative have been mostly positive, despite occasional concerns.
“They are so majestic. If you see one, you never forget that experience,” she says. “They are such an iconic and charismatic species.”
If successful, the project could mark a new chapter for both the Severn estuary and Britain’s nature conservation efforts.
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