Regular blog readers will know that there are currently two separate projects, by two very different organisations, considering the reintroduction of eagles in to Wales.
[Golden eagle photo by Steve Liptrot]
One organisation called ‘Wilder Britain‘, headed by Dr Paul O’Donoghue, is apparently seeking to reintroduce a total of ten golden eagles to Snowdonia National Park but he’s what might be described as a ‘controversial’ figure (google Lynx reintroduction and Wildcat Haven for examples or just read the previous blogs, linked below) and the detailed specifics of his eagle reintroduction research and proposed plan have yet to be made public.
The other organisation, called Eagle Reintroduction Wales Project and headed by Sophie-Lee Williams, is currently assessing the feasibility of reintroducing golden and white-tailed eagles across Wales and has conducted extensive research to inform its proposals. Some of this research has already been published in peer-reviewed journals (e.g. here) and more output is expected shortly. The ERW Project is working with Cardiff University (where Sophie-Lee has just completed her PhD on this topic) and is liaising closely with a network of national and international eagle experts.
For previous blogs about these projects please see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here for background.
This year due to the pandemic, the ERW Project is short of the Government funding that is needed to complete the feasibility studies. ERW has set up a crowdfunder (here) to raise £25K to pay for a full-time researcher to continue this work and conduct public consultations. So far almost £6.5K has been raised. The crowdfunder was due to close last week but has just been extended for a further two weeks to try and attract more support.
For those of you interested in the ERW Project, have a look at this video of Sophie-Lee recently discussing her research findings with the Royal Society of Biology. Her talk lasts for approx 50 minutes and then there’s over an hour of questions and answers. It’s well worth your time.
If you’re able to support the ERW crowdfunder with a small donation please click here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
It pains me to have to say this but I really don’t recognise the core range maps for either osprey or red kite that the ERW project have published on their website. And I have problems with their species summaries too.
Where?
I don’t see any maps info on anything other than eagles.
Me neither and I looked hard. Text on the website is a bit clunky though and could have done with a decent proof-reader. Project looks a damn site more likely to succeed than that of the litigious Dr O’Donohue who really needs to learn how to win friends and influence people.
Yes, it/they are surprisingly difficult to find – but here is a link to the page.
https://www.eaglereintroductionwales.com/birds-of-prey-in-wales
As Sophie LW says in her talk ERW have been given no alternative but to publish stuff prematurely by the arrival of P O’D. In my opinion these species accounts should have been edited and subjected to peer review before being published.
The talk was absolutely brilliant, I’d thoroughly recommend listening all the way through.