According to a report by The Guardian, Sea Eagles have returned to Loch Lomond for the first time in over a century! That's a longgg time. Since their arrival to the area in early March, they have since been seen searching for suitable nesting sites, suggesting that they intend to stay in the area. "It is believed that this is the first time sea eagles have settled in Loch Lomond since their UK extinction in the early 20th century due to persecution and habitat changes, with the last known UK sighting before their reintroduction reported in Shetlend in 1918."
NatureScot's operations manager, Paul Roberts, had this to say: "This is the latest chapter in the continuing success story of sea eagle conservation. Along with our partners, we carefully manage the reserve to offer rich and diverse habitats to support a wide range of birds and other wildlife, so it's very rewarding to see the sea eagles return to Loch Lomond after all these years. We're working closely with Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) and RSPB Scotland to protect the birds and we are urging visitors to enjoy the reserve responsibly and make sure they don't disturb them." Story Via The Guardian.
Way to go NatureScot! We love to hear about wildlife conservation success stories, looks like the sea eagles have made their return and are here to stay!!
Scottish forces are working together "to monitor the birds' behavior, and to put in place protection and visitor management measures to make sure they are not disturbed by other loch users. This includes an exclusion zone, signs asking visitors to keep their distance and monitoring of the area during regular ranger patrols." via TheGuardian.
"We all have a responsibility to help keep these special birds safe and try to minimize disturbance to them. We are engaging with a range of stakeholders who may be impacted by the birds' arrival in the area, including loch users, visitors and local farmers."
"Protecting the natural environment and the wildlife here in the National Park is a priority for the park authority and we have plenty of experience of doing this, including our work to protect nesting ospreys and little ringed plovers, for whom we have put similar protections in place."
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