We said farewell to a good friend of Mull Eagle Watch today. In all types of weather, from the start of incubation to the much longed for hatch, Duncan and Susan would be there on their eagle watch duties. They have been there since the beginning of this amazing project and Frisa and Skye and all their chicks have a lot to thank them for. And yet, for Duncan and Susan, as for all of us, the eagles give so much back.
We all marvel at their flight, whether soaring against blue skies or battling against winter storms. We admire the tender care for their chicks - that amazing cleaver of a beak, slicing tiny morsels of food for tiny eaglets. We respect their faithfulness to each other from one year to the next, from one decade to the next. And we sometimes dream what it must be like to be up there with them, soaring over mountain peaks and gazing to the distant horizons.
For many of us who help on the Mull Eagle Watch project each year, we feel like we're giving something back to the natural world that we take so much from during the course of our lives. For some, it's a couple of hours of peace and quiet in a beautiful place watching stunning birds; for others it's a chance to re-connect with nature and a great excuse to have a walk with the dog. For others it's just an extraordinary privilege to do something constructive and positive for a rare and threatened species. Maybe it's all of these things at different times. Whatever the reason, for volunteers like Duncan and Susan who work to protect our white-tailed eagles every year, come together in this unique way to safeguard the future of this remarkable bird for the generations to come. The fact that Mara and Breagha are flying wild and free today is a fine legacy.
Remembering and thanking Duncan Hall.
Dave Sexton RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer
Sorry, a bit of a backlog of queries building up. Here's some answers:
Anny asked about individual markings on sea eagles: up until this year on the west coast, most chicks had coloured wing tags with letters or numbers fitted and we often get reports of them from the public which is very useful. Chicks released on the east coast and in Ireland will still have wing tags in the future. For pictures of them have a look at the web sites for Mull Bird Club or Mull Birds Online and follow links to sea eagles. This year in the west we have stopped using wing tags and are trialling the satellite tags which will give us much more detailed info on juvenile sea eagle dispersal. Most chicks are also fitted with a lightweight BTO ring on one leg and a coloured ring on the other which may be visible with a telescope. I challenge some of you to try and read the letters...if you do, let me know!
BarbaraAnne asked about Bonnie, the dog who was rescued (see 'It's a dog's life' blog). She's fine but standby for an update soon...
WeeJeanie asked if Blondie's mate ever repaired? He did but sadly he too disappeared in 2003 just as his new mate had hatched their eggs. Those chicks didn't make it but she has also now got a new mate and they've bred successfully for several years now so that historic territory lives on.
Mex asked about any pictures of Blondie: sadly not as far as I'm aware - we have some old archive film of her and the first chick from 1985 but that's about it. If I want to be reminded of her I just look at Frisa, her daughter from 1992. There's an uncanny resemblance!
helenB asked about how I write these stories. You were right, I just sit down and go for it (which probably shows) but not sure I can keep it going at this rate!
Valerie asked about volunteering: yes, most people on Mull Eagle Watch do live here. But many visitors also help us and the police by being extra pairs of eyes and ears and letting us know of any problems so that is always welcome. Also the RSPB has an extensive range of volunteering options on reserves and elsewhere. Check out the main RSPB website Home Page under 'Things to do' and click on Volunteering.
Vivien has asked for some facts (currently in short supply in most newspaper articles I've read) on the current media stories about sea eagles and the loss of 200 lambs in Gairloch. In short, while no-one denies that eagles are capable of taking a few lambs each year, we are surprised at the scale of the figures being claimed in this case given that there is only one pair of sea eagles in this immediate area and only 3 pairs in the whole of Wester Ross. As usual, sea eagles are an easy target for blame, just as they were over 100 years ago when they were persecuted to extinction. There are many other possible reasons for the loss of some of those 200 sheep in that area and these are now also being considered. Anti-eagle or anti-predator stories in the media the world over are always fuelled more by rumour and speculation than hard fact but it's still a sad reflection that we have not moved on from no doubt similar accusations from a 100+ years ago and sought new solutions to such issues. Hopefully the overriding positive public interest in these amazing birds that we share this land with and the considerable sums of money that visitors who come to see them pump into local economies every year will continue to shine through some of the ill-informed media reports. But I won't hold my breath!