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Headlines from week beginning 2 February 2015 |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
The 2015
Competition is now open for entries Your chance to win a prestigious award, with a cash prize of £5,000
and reach millions through national exposure. Help raise awareness about
British wildlife and celebrate our natural heritage. Winners and
commended entrants will have their work showcased in a touring
exhibition and stunning book, and will be invited to an exclusive Awards
ceremony in London. The overall prize fund worth up to £20,000 includes products from
lead sponsors Sky and Canon.
The awards recognise the talents of photographers practising in
Britain whilst also highlighting the great wealth and diversity of
British natural history. A celebration of British wildlife as well as a
showcase for photographers and videographers, both amateur and
professional.
Categories CJS is once again sponsoring the Botanical category There are sixteen separate categories including animal behaviour,
urban wildlife, habitat, animal portraits, marine life, the hidden
secret world that lies in the undergrowth and a special award for
wildlife in HD Video. Also two junior categories and a school award - to
encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
http://www.bwpawards.org/categories Wildlife in HD Video sponsored by Sky+HD: In
addition to still photography there is a great opportunity to capture
wildlife in action and win an amazing prize. Be inspired by the video
winner and commended entries in 2014.
http://www.bwpawards.org/categories/wildlife-in-hd-video Chris Packham, Naturalist and TV Presenter said "Each year the
British Wildlife Photography Awards generates an incredible catalogue of
splendid, exciting, imaginative and artistic images, proving beyond
doubt that we have the richest palette of life to celebrate in our own
backyard. Anyone passionate about protecting and preserving wildlife
will be inspired by the British Wildlife Photography Awards, which in
its sixth year has done more than any other award to raise the profile
of British wildlife.
The Sill wins £7.8M HLF grant to open up Northumberland’s finest
landscapes - Northumberland National Park
Authority There are celebrations all round today (2/2/15) as a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help more people explore and learn
about the nation's finest countryside, has been awarded a grant of £7.8m
from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The Sill will become the country's first national landscape discovery
centre, giving more people than ever before, the chance to experience
the countryside's special and often hidden treasures. It will
revolutionise everyone's ability to find and experience nature and the
great outdoors, inspiring, involving and engaging people from all walks
of life in the natural and cultural heritage of Northumberland.
(image: NNPA) The Sill will deliver a comprehensive programme of interpretation,
education, research and events that will inspire people to celebrate,
value and conserve the unique natural and cultural heritage of the
Northumberland landscape. It's set to attract more than 100,000 visitors
each year, and will offer an all-weather and year-round facility that
provides hostel accommodation, retail facilities and a café. Both
NNPA and YHA are celebrating the latest stage of all the hard work and
dedication by the people and organisations involved in this flagship
project. The partners hope this achievement will act as a springboard to
help raise the remaining £2.2million funds needed to ensure the project
reaches its full potential. John Riddle, Chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority,
hailed this moment as an historic one for the region. He said: "We are
absolutely delighted by today's announcement. To receive such
substantial HLF backing is a wonderful boost for the project and marks a
very significant day for the North East." Tony Gates, Chief Executive of the National Park Authority, claims
the project will transform how people will learn about and explore our
landscapes. He said: "The great outdoors is important to people, it
enriches our lives, it makes us feel alive. The Sill will help people
from all walks of life explore and learn about Britain's finest
landscapes. Through this project, we will inspire the next generation of
custodians, protecting the legacy of our stunning landscapes for the
future. We are particularly keen to ensure young people benefit, with
The Sill as our answer to the iPad in helping grab young
peoples' attention.
Young people called on to support wetlands for a healthier future
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Young people in the UK are being asked join the movement to save
wetlands by making a pledge and sharing their photos. The same call has
gone out to young people in more than 160 countries. The World Wetlands Day theme – “Wetlands for our future” – reflects
the choice facing the world. Anyone can make a pledge to make wetlands part of our future on the
www.worldwetlandsday.org
website. 15-24 year olds are also invited to share their photos of
wetlands for the chance to win a trip to a wetland anywhere in the
world. Further reaction to Friday's defra
consultation
Dismay as UK Government ‘protected’ areas exclude dolphins and
porpoises, again - Whale and Dolphin
Conservation WDC has reacted with dismay and disappointment at the news that the
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has
excluded whales, dolphins and porpoises from those species that will be
protected by a second tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) in the
seas around England’s coastline. The announcement by Defra on Friday is in contrast to Scotland and
Wales, both of which already have similar such marine protected areas
(or MPAs) for bottlenose dolphins, and Scotland has also proposed MPAs
for Risso’s dolphins, minke whales and basking sharks. Back in In November 2013, Defra expanded the Marine Protected Areas
network through the designation of the first tranche of Marine
Conservation Zones. 27 MCZs were designated which offer protection to
the nationally representative and nationally rare and threatened
habitats and species within our seas. Sadly, none included whales,
dolphins or porpoises. WDC believes that these zones and MPAs are both tools that should be used together to provide protection to mobile species, including whales, dolphins and porpoises, where they return to important habitats to feed, breed or to raise young. The European Commission has repeatedly urged the UK government to designate a special kind of MPA called Special Areas of Conservation for harbour porpoises, and has said that it may refer the case to the EU Court of Justice if the UK doesn’t respond appropriately. Therefore, WDC believes that the UK needs to urgently reconsider it’s policies towards mobile marine species so that it is in line with our international commitments, and the rest of the world.
iSpot research paper published - iSpot We're pleased to announce that a new paper in the journal ZooKeys has
been published, describing the thinking behind iSpot's approach to
species identifications, outlining how iSpot makes use of its
'reputation system' to help highlight reliable identifications, and
providing an overview of some of the activity on the site to date. Thanks to everyone who has ever added an observation, identification
or comment to iSpot - you have all contributed to the results described
in the paper! The summary is copied below, and
click here for the full paper. Silvertown J, Harvey M, Greenwood R, Dodd M, Rosewell J, Rebelo T,
Ansine J, McConway K (2015) Crowdsourcing the identification of
organisms: A case-study of iSpot. ZooKeys 480: 125-146. doi:
10.3897/zookeys.480.8803
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust wins Heritage Lottery Fund support for
regional bat project - Heritage Lottery Fund Today, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust are announcing today a new
initiative that will involve community groups, volunteers and young
people in making East Cleveland a better place for bats.
The two-year project aims to increase appreciation and understanding
of the number of different bats in East Cleveland and how they are using
the landscape to roost, forage and commute. The wooded nature of East
Cleveland and the rural character of the landscape give it the potential
to be important for more than eight species of bats including some of
the rarer bats. The project will work with local communities and
volunteers to provide training in field skills and the use of detectors
to record and care for this unique wildlife.
There will also be a wealth of opportunities for people of all ages
to encounter, enjoy, learn and appreciate bats through programmes of
walks, talks, specific bat events, and primary school visits. By
providing a unique wildlife encounter combined with fun, educational and
interactive activities people will be helped to:
Training programmes will provide volunteers with skills in wildlife
recording and the ability to discover more about the bats in their
neighbourhood and how they use the landscape to move about. The
formation of an East Cleveland Bat Group will help in future monitoring
and conservation work.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust secures Heritage Lottery Fund investment
- Northumberland Wildlife Trust Northumberland Wildlife Trust has received a confirmed grant of
£417,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Dynamic Druridge
project, it was announced today (3/2/15). The Druridge Bay coastline, which stretches the 7 miles from Amble in
the north to Lynemouth Bay in the south, is treasured for its beautiful
beaches and rolling sand dunes, yet, behind the sweep of beach lies a
wonderful legacy of Northumberland’s industrial past. Some sections of
the hinterland have already been restored as wetland nature reserves
while other landscapes have changed little since Anglo Saxon times. The
whole area is renowned for its birdlife and is home to other species
such as otters, red squirrels and great crested newts. A large part of the Dynamic Druridge project will be the building of
a new and innovative Wildlife Discovery Centre at the Trust’s Hauxley
reserve on Druridge Bay. Built from the landscape and within the
landscape, the Centre will be an eco-build with the potential to be the
greenest building in the north-east, using locally grown and traditional
building materials; it will enable the wildlife charity to host an
exciting programme of recreational, educational and volunteering
activities designed to re-connect people with nature and the wider
landscape. Designed by North Shields based architects Brightblue Studio, the new
building will be a unique coastal wildlife-watching hub for the North
East and will replace the building destroyed in an arson attack in 2010.
It is scheduled to open in summer 2016. In addition to the new centre, the project will restore, recreate and
reconnect habitats across the Trust’s five nature reserves along the Bay
- Hauxley, Cressell Pond and Foreshore, Druridge Pools, East Chevington
and Linton Lane as well as engaging local communities, groups and
visitors in activities and events designed to reconnect them with the
natural world. You can follow the build’s progress
here.
Childhood obesity crisis tackled as part of groundbreaking canoe project
- Canal and River Trust More than 10,000 young people from some of England’s most deprived
communities will help to transform 150 miles of canal, creating
England’s first ever coast to coast canoe trail. Only 28% of boys and 15% of girls meet the government’s recommended
level of physical activity and 37% of young people aged 11-18 are
overweight or obese. Working to create the canoe trail aims to get the
youngsters active and provide them with new life skills which could help
them gain employment in the future, in the face of 21% youth
unemployment across the country. Over the next five years 15-24 year olds and their families will be
recruited to create social action squads along the length of the Leeds &
Liverpool Canal and Aire and Calder Navigation, connecting communities
along the route to each other and their local environment and waterways. Learning outside the classroom is proven to tackle social mobility
and be of particular help to young people from disadvantaged background,
increasing their self-esteem and raising levels of attainment. It’s also
been proven that spending time outdoors can improve a person’s mental
health and wellbeing. The trail will be the longest of its kind in the UK, first launching
in Merseyside and over five years stretching to Humberside. Along the
way it will connect towns and cities including Liverpool, Wigan,
Blackburn, Burnley, Leeds, Skipton and Goole. Tony Hales, chairman of the Canal & River Trust adds: “We want
communities to use canals to enrich their lives as part of a healthy and
fun lifestyle. Canoeing is a great sport, growing in popularity, for
the young and the older. We want to make it accessible and enjoyed by
many more families and individuals, whatever their physical ability."
Rampisham planning permission put on hold -
Dorset Wildlife Trust Planning permission to build a large solar station on a protected
wildlife site, Rampisham Down in west Dorset, has been put on hold by
the Department for Communities and Local Government, under the Town and
Country Planning Order 1995. West Dorset District Council approved planning permission for a 25MW
solar station on the 72ha (178 acres) protected SSSI (Site of Special
Scientific Interest), Rampisham Down on 15th January 2015. In
response, Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) and the Wildlife Trusts nationally
launched a campaign to urge the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles to
‘call in’ the decision, and decide for himself whether the development
should go ahead, with the aid of a public inquiry. Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dr Simon Cripps said, “We
have been overwhelmed by the amount of public support we’ve had, with
nearly 7,000 people sending their letters to Eric Pickles, asking him to
‘call in’ the decision. It is good news that the process of
issuing planning permission has been halted for the time being, but we
need to continue putting pressure on the Government to get this perverse
decision over-turned. This is not only of local concern, but would
also have national implications if a development such as this is built
on a highly protected SSSI wildlife site, when other sites are
available. DWT supports solar power, just not on an SSSI.”
Bumblebee brains affected by neonicotinoids -
Bumblebee Conservation Trust New research has emerged from the Universities of Dundee and St.
Andrews which shows that accepted environmental levels of neonicotinoids
impair bumblebee brain functionality and consequently negatively impact
the performance of whole colonies.
Early Queen bumblebee (image: Bumblebee Conservation Trust) This latest evidence regarding impaired brain functionality is
particularly alarming given that bumblebees rely upon their intelligence
to go about their daily tasks, navigating the landscape, locating
resources and learning which flowers offer the best rewards and how to
access those rewards. It is especially alarming when considered with the
other threats bumblebees face such as habitat loss and limited food
availability. There is a growing body of evidence showing the harmful
effects of neonicotinoids on bumblebees and other animals, and as such
the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is advocating for an extension to the
current moratorium on neonicotinoid use when it comes to an end in
December this year.
Bee brains and colony health jeopardised by pesticide exposure
- University of Dundee Research at the Universities of Dundee and St Andrews has confirmed
that levels of neonicotinoid insecticides accepted to exist in
agriculture cause both impairment of bumblebees’ brain cells and
subsequent poor performance by bee colonies. The contribution of the neonicotinoids to the global decline of
insect pollinators is controversial and contested by many in the
agriculture industry. However, the new research, published in the
Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental
Biology, demonstrates for the first time that the low levels found in
the nectar and pollen of plants is sufficient to deliver neuroactive
levels to their site of action, the bee brain. Dr Chris Connolly, a Reader in the Division of Neuroscience at
Dundee’s School of Medicine, says the paper represents the best
scientific evidence to date connecting neonicotinoid consumption to poor
performance of bees and that the effects of the pesticide must be
considered by policy makers seeking to protect the abundance and
diversity of insect pollinators. “Our research demonstrates beyond doubt that the level of
neonicotinoids generally accepted as the average level present in the
wild causes brain dysfunction and colonies to perform poorly when
consumed by bumblebees,” he said. “In fact, our research showed that the
ability to perturb brain cells can be found at 1/5 to 1/10 of the levels
that people think are present in the wild. “This is not surprising as pesticides are designed to affect brains
of insects so it is doing what it is supposed to do but on a bumblebee
as well as the pest species. The bumblebees don’t die due to exposure to
neonicotinoids but their brains cells don’t perform well as a result and
this causes adverse outcomes for individual bees and colonies. “This is not proof that neonicotinoids are solely responsible for the
decline in insect pollinators, but a clear linear relationship is now
established. We can now be confident that at these levels,
neonicotinoids disrupt brain function, bee learning and the ability to
forage for food and so limit colony growth.
Evidence shows Grey Seals may be responsible for spiral seal injuries. There is strong evidence that predatory behaviour by Grey Seals,
rather than ship propeller injuries, is likely to be the main cause of
spiral seal deaths, often referred to as “corkscrew seals”. Sea Mammal Research Unit researchers observed a grey seal killing 5
young seals, leaving them with the distinctive spiral seal injuries.
Combined with recent similar evidence from Germany, this suggests such
behaviour may be more common and could explain the unusual clusters of
injured seals found in Scottish waters. This evidence does not completely eliminate ship propellers, but it
is now less likely they are a key factor. Marine Scotland will continue
to fund research into this issue. Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The clusters
of ”corkscrew seal” deaths were unusual and worrying. In common with
many of the creatures that live in our seas, seals are animals that are
loved by the public. It is very important that we understand what caused
these unusual deaths and we now have important evidence that natural
predatory behaviour is likely to be the main cause, rather than ship
propeller injuries as we first thought. This provides some reassurance
for the shipping industry. This information will help to inform
regulators, developers and others enabling them to take it into account
in their activities. Marine Scotland will continue to monitor our seal
population for further injuries and any evidence about the causes.” Download the full report (pdf)
On the lookout for skydancers - RSPB The RSPB want people to keep their eyes peeled for hen harriers As spring gets underway, the RSPB is asking people who spend time in
the English uplands to keep their eyes peeled for hen harriers,
England’s most threatened birds of prey. Now in its eighth year, the conservation charity has relaunched its
Hen Harrier Hotline in the hope of discovering where these birds are
potentially breeding. The uplands of Northern England should have at least 320 pairs of
breeding hen harriers but last year there were only four successful
nests in the whole of England. The main reason hen harriers have reached this crisis point is that
the species suffers from ongoing illegal persecution. Hen harriers breed in remote upland locations so the RSPB relies on
walkers and cyclists to inform them of their location. The conservation
charity can then put measures in place to protect the nest.
Big Tree Plant's millionth tree planted - Defra
We all want the place we live to be as beautiful as it can be and the
government’s tree-planting campaign to make that happen in England’s
towns and cities has hit the million mark.
Today (5 February) Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary, is
planting an oak to celebrate the Big Tree Plant reaching its ambitious
target, which it is now set to surpass. The campaign has been led by Defra, and the Forestry Commission has
provided £4 million to pay for planting and caring for the trees. This
has gone in grants to the volunteers and groups who have brought
communities together to make the Big Tree Plant such a success. Everyone should have the chance to live in a leafy street, not just
the better-off. That is why half the trees in the Big Tree Plant are
going into the 33% most deprived neighbourhoods or those with the least
green space. As part of its commitment to a healthy natural environment, this
government is championing the planting of trees in the countryside as
well as towns and cities. Since 2010, we have funded the planting of at
least 10 million rural trees, reinvigorating existing woodlands and
planting new forests and copses. This country now has more tree cover
than at any time for the past 700 years. The Secretary of State planted the tree in Eastville Park with
Forestry Commission Chair Sir Harry Studholme, Bristol Mayor George
Ferguson and Director General of the Tree Council Pauline Buchanan
Black. They were joined by children from Glenfrome Primary School who
are planting their own trees as part of the project. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: 'Nothing is more symbolic
of England’s trees than the mighty oak. So it’s fitting that I am
planting a young oak today to mark the success of our campaign to plant
a million trees in English towns and cities. Trees are an essential part
of the healthy environment that is so important for quality of life and
wellbeing. That’s especially true in areas which don’t have much
greenery, which is why we have made sure that all of the trees planted
have been in urban areas of the country or in places with the least
trees and green space.'
£2.7 million boost for cycling in national parks - Department for
Transport Five national parks are set to benefit from more than £2.7 million to
help develop new cycling facilities, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill
announced today (5 February 2015). The funding will create additional cycling routes, improving links
between national parks and nearby areas. Robert Goodwill said: 'I want to get more people on their bikes and
this funding will open up cycle access to some of the country’s most
scenic routes. It demonstrates the government’s determination to
continue the cycling legacy generated by the 2012 Olympics and the
launch of the Tour de France in Yorkshire last year.' The investment will fund cycling schemes in the following areas:
Minister for Transport declares that beauty is of vital importance to
road infrastructure - CPRE Campaigners welcome pledge at CPRE-CBT lecture that aesthetics will
be crucial consideration in road building plans. Minister for Transport John Hayes MP pledged yesterday to incorporate
beauty and good design into the Government’s extensive road development
plans at an event organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England
(CPRE) and the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT). In what proved a major speech on the importance of beauty in
delivering infrastructure projects, Mr Hayes
outlined plans for a design panel and beauty tests to ensure that
roads can be sensitive to their surrounding environment. In response to Mr Hayes, CPRE President Sir Andrew Motion welcomed
the new focus on beauty, reflecting that the "vast majority of people
never abandoned beauty. It was more a case of beauty being beaten out of
them". Sir Andrew also questioned the need to build so many new roads,
suggesting that such passion for the environment might be better placed
in improving existing infrastructure and public transport. Shaun Spiers, chief executive of CPRE, similarly welcomed the new
focus, referencing a new initiative with the think tank ResPublica that
aims to ensure that communities have a ‘right to beauty’. Mr Spiers also
emphasised that CPRE would urge the Government to increase its
environmental budget within the roads strategy – currently £550m out of
a total £15bn.
Escaped prairie dogs under control - Scottish
Natural Heritage Prairie dogs which were on the loose at an East Lothian open farm in
2013 are now recaptured and in a secure enclosure, under the first
agreement of its kind to control invasive non-native species in
Scotland.
This is the first time a voluntary agreement of this kind has been
used to control non-native species. In July 2012, Scotland introduced
new laws, which are some of the most wide-ranging and comprehensive laws
on non-native species in Europe. The Scottish legislation allows for a staged approach to dealing with
escaped non-native species. A voluntary, co-operative agreement is the
first stage and we would expect this normally to be sufficient. But if
it doesn't work, we have the option to go for a compulsory order, and
then court action if it becomes necessary. Stan Whitaker, SNH’s invasive
non-native species expert, said: “Our concern was that, if prairie
dogs became established, they would have a negative impact on natural
areas and farmland. Scotland is the first in the UK to use this
type of voluntary, cooperative agreement to make sure that invasive,
non-native animals don’t spread and cause damage to the countryside. We
believe this is a much more effective way to work with wildlife parks
and others, rather than levying fines. We hope this will encourage
people to be more open when animals or birds escape, and result in
better control of invasive species by working together.” Grant Bell of East Links Farm Park added: “Prairie dogs are
humorous wee guys loved by our visitors for their antics but they don’t
voluntarily offer themselves up to capture or enclosure. The challenge
here was to create an environment whereby the animals would have a
secure enclosure that allowed them plenty of freedom and still let our
visitors enjoy them. The collaboration with SNH allowed us to create an
enclosure that suited our needs but also exceeded their expectations and
criteria.” In December 2013 we published a CJS Focus on
Non-Native Invasive Species.
You can read this here, although it doesn't have any prairie dogs!
Rescued chick spreads her wings - RSPB A young white-tailed eagle, which hit the headlines last year when
her dramatic nest eviction was caught on camera, has caused a new stir
after turning up fit and well in Dumfries and Galloway. The bird, nicknamed Sona, had to be returned to her nest by Forestry
Commission Scotland climbers last June after being attacked by an
intruding eagle and falling 30 feet to the ground. The behaviour, which
had never been recorded before, was a surprise to the experts.
Dave Sexton, RSPB Scotland Mull Officer, said: “We know this bird
well after all the drama last summer, and I’m extremely relieved to hear
that she’s alive and apparently healthy. We got her back into her nest
uninjured after her dangerous fall, and she fledged a few weeks later.
But that’s often the last we’ll see of these young eagles, as they
wander quite widely in their first few years. It’s unusual to have so
many sightings of a juvenile like this in Dumfries and Galloway, even
though it’s perfect eagle habitat. She’s gone from the Isle of Mull to
the Mull of Galloway probably via the Mull of Kintyre so she clearly
likes to mull things over!” A member of the public, who had been watching the nest webcam,
alerted the Mull Eagle Watch team to the truth behind her tumble,
allowing the dramatic footage to come to light. It was also members of
the public who spotted the bird in Dumfries and Galloway, and their
photographs and film sent to the RSPB allowed her to be identified. Chris Rollie, RSPB Scotland area manager for Dumfries and Galloway,
said: “We’d heard reports of white-tailed eagle sightings from several
Wigtownshire locations in the last few weeks, and thanks to her leg
rings and local birdwatcher Brian Henderson’s photography, we were able
to positively identify her as the lucky Mull bird." Scientific Publications Butchart, Stuart H.M et al.
Shortfalls and Solutions for Meeting National and Global Conservation
Area Targets. Conservation Letters DOI:
10.1111/conl.12158 Hansen, Everett.
Phytophthora Species Emerging as Pathogens of Forest Trees. Current
Forestry Reports DOI: 10.1007/s40725-015-0007-7
Ward, Alastair, Dendy, Julie & Cowan, David. (2015)
Mitigating impacts of roads on wildlife: an agenda for the conservation
of priority European protected species in Great Britain. European
Journal of Wildlife Research DOI: 10.1007/s10344-015-0901-0
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CJS is not responsible for content of external sites. Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Disclaimer: the views expressed in these news pages do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CJS. |
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The
Sill, graphic of how the new centre will look 
Young
people will grow up healthier and more prosperous if the world can
reverse the loss of wetlands, is the message from WWT and charities and
governments throughout the world today – World Wetlands Day.
The
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has received a confirmed grant of £45,300
from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and a further £5,000 funding from
Northumbrian Water’s Branch Out Fund for the East Cleveland Batscape
Project.
The
research, published in the Journal of the Federation of American
Societies for Experimental Biology, is the first to demonstrate that the
levels of neonicotinoids commonly found in the pollen and nectar of
treated plants affect bumblebee brains. The results show that very low
levels of neonicotinoids could cause up to a 55% reduction of living
bees found in a colony and up to a 71% reduction in healthy brood cells.
Environment
Secretary Elizabeth Truss plants an oak to celebrate the leafier streets
and cities.
Prairie
dogs are native to North America, where cattle farmers claim that they
can cause considerable damage to pastures. In the case in East Lothian,
the animals were free to roam around East Links Farm Park and it was
feared individuals might escape into the neighbouring John Muir Country
Park, part of the Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a
protected natural area.
But
Sona has provided a further surprise this January after being repeatedly
sighted in the south west corner of Scotland, where white-tailed eagles
haven’t bred for over 150 years.
