Releasing sea eagles into the wild seemed a good idea, but there was one key flaw … they love killing other rare animals

Published on Tuesday 17 February 2009 20:58

SEA eagles reintroduced to Scotland have been enjoying a diet that includes threatened species such as short-eared owl and puffin, a survey has revealed.

Volunteers have been examining the contents of the nests of the giant birds on the Western Isles over the past two years.

Members of the Outer Hebrides Bird Group discovered the most common food eaten by the bird of prey was seabirds, particularly fulmars.

However, remains of mountain hare, puffin, short-eared owl, raven and even red deer were found in the nests.

Fragments from lambs were also discovered by the volunteers, whose findings are recorded in the 10th Outer Hebrides Bird Report, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage.

A spokesman for SNH said he was "surprised" by some of the rare species in the sea eagles' diet, and he said there are plans to carry out further research to find out more about what they eat.

James Reynolds, spokesman for RSPB Scotland, insisted the sea eagles were unlikely to pose any threat to the populations of threatened birds such as short eared owls and puffins. "A sea eagle doesn't recognise the protection orders that are given to various other species," he said. "They are opportunistic predators. If they see an opportunity, they will exploit it.

"Generally, you will see that they take sea birds, largely fulmars and gannets. But other species will form part of their diet and they won't be averse to taking a few puffin. It's just part of the balance of nature.

"I don't anticipate they will have any sort of observable impact on the numbers of species like puffin."

He added that a sea eagle would be "highly unlikely" to take a whole deer, but would usually take carrion.

The reintroduction of sea eagles last year met with opposition from farmers in Gairloch, Wester Ross, who blamed the birds for the loss of 200 lambs.

A study is due to take place this year into the causes of the disappearance of the lambs.

Mr Reynolds said it was likely to take at least a year, and will aim to "get to the root of the problem".

"It's an attempt to try to identify what the causes are and to find a solution for the crofters," said Mr Reynolds. "There can be little doubt they are losing a number of lambs and we need to know the causes of that."

He added: "The number that they are talking about and attributing it to sea eagles is really quite surprising, and in our experience we are not familiar with those sorts of numbers, but nevertheless they clearly are losing lambs and they really are quite distressed about that."

Sea eagles were returned to the west coast of Scotland in the 1970s, after they had been extinct for 50 years.

The study confirmed the sea eagles most commonly ate sea birds, particularly fulmars. This was followed by mackerel, then lumpsucker, dogfish, red deer, mountain hare, lamb, brown rat, raven, short eared owl, great black backed gull, puffin, greylag goose and eider duck.

Experts warn wildlife in danger of extinction

CLIMATE change will drive some wildlife to extinction in Scotland, while others will have to move their habitats to survive, according to experts.

An action plan published by Scottish Natural Heritage says that, as a last resort, some species may have to relocated, although this is costly and risky.

SNH says climate change is the most serious threat over coming decades to Scotland's natural heritage and is likely to have a profound effect on the landscape and ecosystem.

A report to yesterday's board meeting said rising greenhouse gases are leading to rising air and surface temperatures, and rising sea levels.