Tough love

I don't know what to make of Kellan today.

Kellan was the only chick from a pair of white-tailed eagles on Mull. He was found by a friendly farmer last autumn with a broken wing and other injuries. After months of expert care from the Scottish SPCA he was as ready as he was ever going to be to return to the wild and came home to Mull in December. Since then he has made amazing progress; he can fly and perch well; he has adapted his flight brilliantly to his mended wing injury; he has found carrion on the hill (some provided by local estates and the Forestry Commission Scotland) and he's defended it against other eagles. And just last week he was starting to explore further afield.

Kellan gaining in strength under the care of the Scottish SPCA
Photo by Colin Seddon/SSPCA

But the time has now come to wean him completely of the 'unexplained' food offerings high on the hill. Just as his parents would have done last autumn, the amount of food available to him has been gradually reduced in recent weeks and now he must find his own way in the world. It's a tough world for eagles, never knowing from one day to the next what is coming their way. Feast or famine; storms and calm; friends and foe. Luckily for him, unlike some other parts of Scotland, most on Mull are friends.

But now as his parents settle again for a new breeding season it is time to cut the apron strings for good. They won't want him around now as they will soon need to tend to new offspring in a few weeks time. It is time for some tough love. It's the natural way of things, the circle of life.

The temptation, of course, is to keep him safe; to keep providing for him and to keep him here. But that's no life for a wild eagle. He's not a pet, he's a free spirit who was given a second chance by some very caring people but now it's up to him. Last week he'd taken a big step and flown strongly across the glen and on to a new estate. He seemed  to be on his way to a new life. But today he was back on familiar territory. Had he found his own food and come home triumphantly? It's impossible to know at the moment. I hope more anything that he has.

Kellan views the outside world for the first time in 3 months

photo copyright - John McAvoy, SSPCA

As I left him tonight, I looked around the hillside: there were rabbits out grazing - everywhere I  looked - I've never seen so many rabbits on Mull; there were red deer galore - hinds, year old calves and some stags - some will be weak after a very tough winter and an even tougher early spring; some won't make it and there will be fresh carrion for Kellan nearby and further afield. On the shore, there were gulls, sea duck and auks close in; some will die and wash up with the tide and if things got really tough he could scavenge along the strand line. He couldn't be in a richer feeding environment if only he cares to go looking for it. Just like all other young eagles have to do.

He is special; he has survived so far against all the odds and numerous predictions from some who thought he wouldn't survive three days, let alone three months back in the wild. Now he faces his toughest test yet and no one can predict the outcome. Tough love can be tough to do sometimes.

Dave Sexton RSPB Mull Officer