This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Name that sea eagle ...
12/06/2006
Schoolchildren are being asked to come up with a name for the 200th sea eagle reared in the world's only observable nest for the majestic birds on the Isle of Mull.
Deputy Wildlife Minister Rhona Brankin got a close up view of two six week old fledglings when she visited the viewing platform at the project, which is supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Forestry Commission Scotland.
The first of the pair to leave the nest will become the 200th to be successfully reintroduced to Scotland's coastline since the first fledgling flew the nest 21 years ago.
During her visit Ms Brankin challenged local schoolchildren to come up with suitably high flying names for the chicks:
"The sea eagle project has successfully involved the local community in the protection of wildlife on their doorstep and has increased their understanding and enjoyment of their natural environment.
"The people of Mull have been the guardians of these two chicks and it is only fitting that local children name them.
"We are all responsible for the future of the animals which make Scotland unique and it is great to see this community living up to that huge responsibility."
RSPB Head of Species Duncan Orr-Ewing said:
"This hugely successful partnership project on Mull is the only sea eagle nest in the world where there is an opportunity for the public to view the birds directly at the nest.
"It has more than demonstrated its value to the islands and the people that live here. A recent RSPB economic study showed that these famous birds are worth a minimum of £1.7 million to the Mull economy annually, and half of the annual income derived from visitors to the hide, which last year generated £3,000, goes straight back into the local community for good causes."
"RSPB Scotland is working towards making sure that sea eagles recover all of their former breeding range in Britain and other parts of Scotland, so ensuring that the many economic, social and conservation benefits of these majestic birds can be brought to other communities throughout the UK."
During her visit the Minister also announced that 15 local conservation projects in Scotland will benefit from £167,000 of funding from the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme this year. They are:
British Trust for Ornithology - Biodiversity in Glasgow
Woodland Trust - Scotland - Milton biodiversity and community involvement project
RSPB Scotland - Lapwing recovery - lowl and farming community investigation project
RSPB Scotland - Action for corn buntings on Western Isles
Bumblebee Conservation Trust - Machair management for the great yellow bumblebee, Bombus distinguendus
Business Environment Partnership - Business and biodiversity
Plantlife Scotland - The Pond Pack
RSPB Scotland - Scottish black grouse recovery programme - phase 1
Scottish Lowlands Barn Owl Forum - Scottish Lowlands barn owl project
Grampian Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group - North-east farmland bumblebee project
Woodland Trust - Scotland - Geordie's Wood habitat creation project
BTCV Scotland - Glasgow's biodiversity action project
SNH/Tweed Forum - Tweed water vole initiative
Scottish Wildlife Trust - Conservation grazing project
RSPB Scotland - Hebridean education programme for the great yellow bumblebee
Ms Brankin said:
"This money supports work which benefits everyone in Scotland by helping to protect our important species and habitats and by improving awareness of the animals and plants which make our country unique.
"I am particularly pleased to see the grants being used to support the conservation of a number of our native species including the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Water Voles, Black Grouse and the Corn Bunting.
"I am also delighted that the Business Environment Partnership has become the first commercial project to be awarded BAGS funding."
The Executive has given the RSPB £23,675 of Biodiversity Action Grants (BAGS) between 2005-2007 for Whitetailed Sea Eagle Conservation Programme. The Mull sea eagle viewing and protection project is a partnership of RSPB Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, Mull and Iona Community Trust, Strathclyde Police and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Half of the income from visitors to the hide, which last year topped £3,000, goes back into the local community for good causes, with funds today handed out from the Mull and Iona Community Trust by the Deputy Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Rhona Brankin MSP.
Mull sea eagles are derived from a successful reintroduction programme that took place on the Isle of Rum in the 1970s, co-ordinated by the Nature Conservancy Council, the predecessor of Scottish Natural Heritage. A further reintroduction of sea eagles took place in the early 1990s in Wester Ross. Mull Eagle Watch is also backed by the Nadair Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The BAGS scheme was launched in May 2004 alongside the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to support small biodiversity projects that directly implement the Strategy. BAGS will transfer to SNH with effect from 2006-07, in line with one of the recommendations of the SNH Review.