An excellent talk by Zoe Smith, of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, on the proposed re-introduction of White-tailed Eagle to Exmoor, atttracted representatives from many of our member organisations.
Zoe Smith (left) and TTEF meeting attendees © M Haworth-Booth
We heard about the history of White-tailed Eagle re-introductions in Southern England, and how young birds from the Isle of Wight project have toured the west country. Satellite tracking data has shown that seven different birds had spent time on Exmoor, where the species formerly bred along the coast, as well as on Bodmin Moor. Although young birds make wide-ranging explorations, dispersal from existing breeding sites to new locations is very slow. It is hoped that releasing a small cohort of up to 20 birds on Exmoor over three years will help reinforce the English population by aiding their geographical expansion.