In a secluded and secret part of Norfolk, plans are being made to launch a controversial wildlife experiment. Its supporters say it would boost the local economy and provide spectacular sights for wildlife lovers, while opponents claim the experiment is unnecessary and could very harmful to local businesses and rare wildlife.
But what animal could cause such mixed and varying emotions? Soar forward the sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, also known as the white-tailed eagle. Once native and widespread in the British Isles, these massive top predators were hunted to extinction in Britain and Ireland by the early 20th century. But as time and industrialisation marched on, the birds also began to decline in their previous European strongholds.
“By the 1960s environmental pollutants had caused severe population declines for sea eagles in much of Europe,” says James Reynolds from RSPB Scotland. “So, in 1975, a reintroduction programme began on the Isle of Rum. Young eagles were brought from nests in Norway, as that country had the only population robust enough to act as a donor.” 

Spreading their wings

James says west Scotland was selected because it was the area most recently occupied by sea eagles and it was largely free of pollution. Birds were released infrequently until 1985 and they spread, so there are now resident populations on several islands, including Skye and Mull. About 80 birds were released, but there are only a handful of breeding pairs. “Half of sea eagles born do not make it to breeding age,” says James. “It then takes them five years to reach sexual maturity and recent research suggests that released birds don’t survive as well as wild birds.”
The population growth stalled in the early 1990s, so a second phase of releases began in Wester Ross, on the edge of existing re-established range. The RSPB says that the eagles attract thousands of visitors, generating millions for the local economies, and that they have enthusiastic support among the communities involved. But some crofters who farm livestock within these newly acquired eagle territories say they’re increasingly concerned about the impact the raptors are having on their animals and their way of life. 
Later this year an investigation will be launched into the habits of the sea eagles in Wester Ross, to see how many lambs the eagles are taking. Crofters in the area say up to 200 lamb kills could be due to the eagles. Donald MacDonald, from the Scottish Crofting Foundation, says he has nothing against the eagles in principle, but the populations are simply getting too high. “I don’t see why they can’t take the eagles away,” he says. “One of my concerns is that they’re taking chicks in from Norway. They’ve been breeding here since 1990s, and I cannot understand why they can’t relocate the Scottish juveniles to other locations.  “Skye is at saturation point for eagles; there are six or seven breeding pairs within a 7-mile radius of my house and they’re not living on fresh air. Every sea eagle has a 75-mile hunting field. Recently an RSPB researcher came here and couldn’t find any rabbits. They’ve eaten all the rabbits and are moving on to lambs.”

Learning lessons

The Scottish experience has provided many lessons for those who are planning the Norfolk sea eagle reintroduction. Scottish conservationists admit that there was not nearly enough consultation when the sea eagles were first introduced – although, as they admit, conservation programmes were run very differently back then. But those who are backing the scheme hope that if eagles do soar above the Norfolk Broads, they will have widespread backing from the community and local businesses.
“There’s always danger that you can consult into oblivion, but it’s important to consult enough,” says Tom Tew, chief scientist for Natural England, one of the organisations supporting the reintroduction. “The consultation has revealed a wide range of views, and there’s no point trying to drive through this project without the backing of a large majority of people. We’re never going to convince 100 percent of the population, but without the key players the project is less likely to proceed. We’d rather do it right than do it quick. The consultation is a genuine one so we haven’t set a deadline for completing it.” 
To that end, Natural England and the RSPB have been holding town hall meetings, drop-in centre sessions, and talking to landowners and local farmers. Anglian Water is another partner in the scheme. A spokesman says they are acting as consultants on the project because of their successful reintroduction of ospreys in Rutland.

Majority verdict

The scheme would cost about £100,000, split between the three partners over six years. And although nobody wants to talk about exactly how the reintroduction would work – perhaps because they don’t want to give the impression that the decision has already been made – it seems safe to assume that it would follow similar lines to the schemes in Scotland. 
So far those supporting the scheme say public opinion seems favourable. A recent poll in the Eastern Daily Press, a local newspaper, suggested people are 75/25 in favour of the introduction. “The vast majority of people are in favour,” says Tom Tew. “These are not some sort of twitching speciality, they are great big, majestic birds which are a reminder of a time when top predators shared the land with us.
“We’re also pretty certain there would be an economic benefit to the local tourism industry. We are in the middle of commissioning another social and economic analysis, but we think there would be positive and significant effects for eco-tourism. But we need to plan for it. For example, not all of Norfolk’s roads need more traffic.” 
And with farmers increasingly urged to raise their livestock to higher welfare standards, there are concerns among those who have invested heavily in free-range pork and poultry, who believe that their free roaming animals could end up as eagle food. 
“We have four areas of concern,” says a spokesman for the National Farmers’ Union. “Firstly, the taking of prey; secondly, the economic effects of increased stress levels in livestock, both pigs and poultry, which could have the eagles hovering above them; thirdly, the impact on farming operations of any exclusion zones imposed around the birds, particularly during the breeding season; and fourthly, the impact it could have on biodiversity, particularly ground-nesting bird sites that farmers are creating through government-backed environmental schemes.”

Signed and sealed?

Privately other local people say that, despite Natural England’s assurances that it will not happen in 2009, the reintroduction is a done deal. But Cambridgeshire farmer Robin Page, from the Countryside Restoration Trust, questions whether the sea eagle was ever native in Norfolk in the first place. “If you look at the records of the experts, East Anglia was not one of the bird’s native areas,” he says. “In my view there’s no evidence that they were ever there and I think this is a PR exercise.
“From a wildlife point of view, it could be a complete disaster because there are fantastic tern colonies at Blakeney, for example, so why put them at risk? Then there are avocets, bitterns and egrets – all of which will end up as part of the sea eagles’ diet.
“A lot of wildlife wardens are totally opposed to it but are not allowed to speak out, and they’re very cross. It’s the top people who want this.” 
Natural England and the RSPB are adamant that no decision has been made, and even if they do decide to go ahead, there are many other national and international hurdles to jump before sea eagles would be seen soaring across the wide Norfolk skies. But whatever the outcome, the majestic sea eagles show that, when it comes to wildlife, it’s often a lot more difficult to put back what man has taken away than conserve what we already have. 

5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SEA EAGLES

1. The sea eagle is the UK’s largest bird of prey. Adults are usually about 90cm (3ft) tall, with a wingspan that can stretch to 2.5m (8ft). The bird takes its name from its love of lochs and other coastal locations.
2. In 1700, there were more than 200 pairs of sea eagles spread across the UK as far south as the Isle of Wight, but by 1916 they were extinct. 
3. The last bird in England was killed in the Lake District in 1724; the last native bird in the UK lived in Shetland and was an albino.
4. They are quite long-lived birds, surviving until about 20 years of age, and mate for life, although if one partner dies, the other will readily find a new one. Sea eagles have a spectacular courtship display, locking claws in mid-air and cartwheeling downwards, sometimes stopping only a few feet above the ground or water.