Re-introduced white-tailed eagles (also known as sea eagles) are bringing in £millions of pounds to local rural economies in Scotland.
40 years after the start of the sea eagle reintroduction project in Scotland, a significant milestone has been reached with the 100th breeding pair (see here).
Sea eagle tourism on the Isle of Mull brings in an additional £5 million each year (see here). Now a new RSPB report shows that the sea eagles on the Isle of Skye are generating an additional £2.4 million (see here).
Over in the Irish Republic (where the sea eagle reintroduction project only started in 2007), the small but growing eagle population is also attracting thousands of tourists (see here).
It’s heartening to see that despite the efforts of some (e.g. see here, here, here, here), these eagles are fighting back and, in a world where nature seems to be judged on its monetary value, they’re giving back, too.
Photo by Mike Watson
Raptor Persecution UK 
Too right. We stayed up in Lochcarron a couple of weeks ago. Three of us paid just shy of £100 to go on the “Spirit of Adventure”, 2 hour wildlife cruise and it was worth every penny. Highlight was a pair of White Tailed Eagles floating around above the boat. It was amazing!
As an Englishman (sorry) who’s spent a fair wad of cash over the last 7 years or so travelling to/holidaying on Mull and Skye I can say it was worth every penny to see those wonderful birds and many others. All credit to all those on Mull and beyond for their hard work in bringing back the sea eagles, especially David Sexton, Roy Dennis and the late Finlay Christine.
PS I’ve never been to Edinburgh. Who wants to go there when there’s sea eagles, goldies, hen harriers etc etc to see on Mull?
Wonder if Scottish Land and Estates will give this news much coverage, after all they are interested in what’s best for rural communities, land owners, the environment and wildlife aren’t they? If heaven forbid they were showing a bias, even an extreme bias towards anything perhaps conflicting with huntin, fishin, shootin interests then they wouldn’t be doing their job. They’d be reducing the options available for rural Scotland and leave it thinking it had little going for it but shooting stags and grouse, hooking a few salmon out of degraded rivers (grouse moors aren’t good for them) with a bit of forestry and farming thrown in – a playground for wealthy hunters. Eco tourism is so much better, and democratic.
There here is no doubt that large raptors of any kind advance the nature conversation value of a visit to Scotland. Someone should tell the Scottish Government to stop ravaging the landscape with more large wind turbines so that their habitats are left in pristine condition.
Well said An – its starting to get out there that much of Scotland is now one giant windfarm. I know folks who do a lot of travelling on wildlife/birding trips are now put off ever visiting Scotland for those reasons
Unfortunately the Scottish Government wont listen AnMac, they wont be happy until Scotland is one giant wind farm!
I’d hoped that now Eck’s headed south Nicola would see sense at his obsessive folly of a policy.
Just spent most of last week in east Devon. In and around Exeter and Sidmouth. Not a wind turbine to be seen from one hill top to another. No wonder they say glorious Devon. Not even small ones around 30/50m.
I am however reliabably informed that further west down the Cornwall way it is a bit like Scotland now.