Visitors to RSPB Scotland’s Abernethy nature reserve have enjoyed the first ever live footage of a wild white-tailed eagle hatching in the UK.
The young eaglet is the offspring of Shona and Finn, a pair who are nesting in the vast landscape of the Cairngorms Connect partnership, of which RSPB Scotland is part.
Since eggs were first seen in the nest on Thursday March 3, both parents have shared incubating duties, including protecting them from snow and recent storms, before the first egg hatched at 7.43pm on Friday April 8.
Camera hidden 10ft away from the nest
The birds’ activities are being beamed live to the Loch Garten Nature Centre, via a camera which has been hidden in a stick around 10ft from the nest to avoid disturbing the birds.
This is the first time such a method has been used in the UK after successful trials in Latvia and Estonia.
Fergus Cumberland, visitor experience manager for RSPB Scotland, said: “The response to the eagles from the public has been one of excitement and anticipation.
“The true character and personalities of these birds are on full display for the public to experience and it is a wonder to watch it all unfold.
“Now to see that they’ve hatched their first chick is incredible. We feel so privileged to have been able to witness such a special moment.”
Largest bird of prey
Also known as sea eagles, white-tailed eagles are the UK’s largest bird of prey with a wingspan of 2.5 metres.
They were driven to extinction in Scotland in 1918 before birds from Scandinavia were re-introduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975.
Subsequent re-introductions in other parts of the country, as well as the birds’ natural dispersal means there are now populations spread as far as Fife, Orkney and the northwest Highlands.
The newly hatched chick is a descendant of these re-introduced birds.
Finn is a great-grandson of sea eagle royalty
Their father, Finn, is the great-grandson of the well-known Skye and Frisa pair of Mull Eagle Watch and BBC Springwatch fame.
Skye is the oldest known white-tailed eagle at 28 years old and Frisa was the daughter of Blondie, the first eagle to successfully raise a chick in 1985 after the re-introduction.
After hatching, white-tailed eagle chicks generally remain in the nest being fed by their parents for approximately 12 weeks.
Even upon fledging, they remain close to the nest and dependent on their parents throughout the autumn before seeking their own territory.
Not out of the woods yet
Jess Tomes, Abernethy site manager at RSPB Scotland, said: “The next two weeks are critical for this young eagle as they are unable to regulate their own body temperature for the first few days and are totally dependent on their parents to shelter them from the worst of a Cairngorms spring.
“It’ll be a very tense time for all watching but we welcome everybody to visit us at the nature centre and experience these incredible moments!”
To avoid disturbance of the birds, the exact location of the nest is not being disclosed to the public.
Visitors to RSPB Scotland’s Loch Garten Nature Centre can view the live feed daily throughout the spring and summer.
Highlights and updates will be provided on the RSPB Loch Garten Twitter and Facebook pages.