Cleric ‘traumatised’ after attack by sea eagle that killed his pet goose

THE reintroduction of sea eagles to Scotland has been hailed as a triumph by bird lovers and conservationists.

But now a clergyman has called for the programme to be halted after revealing he was attacked by one of the raptors while trying to protect his prize-winning geese.

The Very Rev Hunter Farquharson said he was “traumatised” after the sea eagle left him with a head injury and a slashed shirt.

Mr Farquharson returned to his home in Abernethy, Perthshire, on Friday afternoon to find his prize-winning Toulouse goose Beatrice dead on the ground, with the huge bird of prey perched on a fence post looking on.

The Provost of Perth Cathedral said he was “horrified” to find the goose, worth about £300, with its “face ripped to shreds, its throat opened and blood everywhere”.

He went inside to phone RSPB Scotland but heard a “terrible noise” and rushed back outside to see the eagle going after his champion gander Bertie.

When he tried to chase the eagle away it jumped on his back, tearing his shirt, causing a 4in wound below his shoulder and cutting his head.

Mr Farquharson said: “It was very, very frightening. The geese have been traumatised by it. They have not laid since. And I’m traumatised too. I’m 6ft 5in, but it was such a shock.”

He managed to push the eagle off his back and it landed on the ground, so he quickly trapped it beneath a piece of wire fencing. Then the RSPB arrived and took the sea eagle away.

Known as “flying barn doors”, sea eagles became extinct in Scotland in 1917, but have been let out in batches into the Perthshire countryside as part of a reintroduction attempt.

It is the second time Mr Farquharson’s birds have been attacked. Two years ago four of his bantams were killed.

Mr Farquharson thinks sea eagles should not be reintroduced.

“This part of the world is far too populated to be releasing sea eagles,” Mr Farquharson told The Scotsman. “I have nothing against sea eagles at all. They are magnificent birds but around here there are far too many people and domestic animals.”

He added: “If this had been a dog that attacked livestock or a person, the dog would have been destroyed.”

And he does not want the attacking sea eagle released, because he thinks it will return to kill more of his geese. However, RSPB Scotland said it would be let back out into the wild.

A spokesman said: “In our experience sea eagles will only defend themselves and attack humans if they feel cornered and threatened. It is of course unfortunate that the bird scratched Mr Farquharson, but we believe it was simply trying to escape and resist capture.”

He highlighted that netting installed by RSPB Scotland after the attack two years ago had not been in place over Mr Farquharson’s enclosure on Friday.

“We are going back to meet with him at the earliest opportunity to seek a practical solution and try and find a way forward so that his birds are safe,” the spokesman added.

He said the sea eagle had been from a batch of “young and naive” birds released this year.

“These birds will soon disperse as they grow in confidence.”