Our Research So Far

The Eagle Reintroduction Wales (ERW) project was established at Cardiff University in July 2017 - over the last couple of years we have hit the ground running with ground breaking research. With most of our research, we are working with a blank canvas as no research assessments have been conducted for eagles in Wales, apart from a commissioned report published by the Countryside Council for Wales back in 2005.

The Feasibility of Eagles coming back to Wales -

In 2013, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) approved guidelines for reintroduction and conservation translocation of species. Reintroduction programmes are not an easy process, they are strict, highly regulated, licensing processes shaped by statutory conservation agencies in Britain. In the case of Wales, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are in charge of reviewing feasibility studies and issuing species licences.

The ERW project’s research questions are shaped around the IUCN guidelines. Based on these guidelines the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has developed a process for evaluating and undertaking species translocation for conservation purposes. The reintroduction of any species to Wales should follow these guidelines. Check our progress so far:-

The History of Eagles in Wales - 2017-2018:

The history of eagles in Wales has always been a mystery for many ornithologist, despite a number of UK researchers mapping the UK historic distribution. We found that previous English and Scottish researchers who collated evidence to map the historic distribution of eagles in Britain had 25 common welsh eagle records. We also predicted, from our research that the lack of welsh eagle records recorded previously was probably attributed to the lack of understanding of the Welsh language. We started with 25 historic eagle records, which was not enough to feed into a reintroduction programme.

With the hard work of gathering data, modelling and mapping we now have 166 eagle records with evidence of eagles being present in every county across Wales. Which has put us at a good starting point, as stated by the IUCN guidelines we are not able to reintroduce any species outside of their indigenous range. Our peer-reviewed scientific research can be downloaded as a PDF below or for more non-scientific information delve into our written blogs.

 
 
 

Breeding Distribution of Ecologically Similar Species - 2018 - 2019:

As part of ongoing inter-linked studies to restore either or both native eagle species to Wales, the IUCN reintroduction guidelines suggest gathering information on ecologically similar species. Due to there being no Raptor Monitoring Group in Wales, we have mapped the core breeding ranges of birds of prey that share behavioural, ecological, dietary or nesting requirement with the Golden and/or White-tailed Eagle.

This particular research has allowed us to conclude that bird of prey persecution has significantly declined from historic times in Wales. The widespread distribution of our generalist birds of prey (e.g. Red Kites and Common Buzzards) and the population recoveries of our specialist birds of prey (e.g. Hen Harriers and Ospreys), provide irrefutable evidence of this. Check out our BIRDS OF PREY IN WALES Blog for more information.

 
 
 

Nesting Habitat for Eagles Across Britain and Wales - 2018 - 2019:

We have quantified all suitable eagle breeding habitats across Britain for the Golden and White-tailed Eagle. We now have mapped the proportion of upland and lowland breeding areas across Britain for the Golden eagle and coastal and inland breeding areas for the White-tailed Eagle. Our assessments take into consideration the environmental needs of the species. Britain holds an abundance of breeding habitat for both eagle species, particularly in southern Britain, where breeding eagles are void. Scotland holds the highest proportion of breeding habitat for both species, followed by Wales and then England. Our research shows and abundance of breeding habitat for both species in Wales and has allowed us to conclude that Wales should be the next priority locations for the restoration of these iconic and charismatic species. Keep an #EagleEye out for our preliminary results and blogs to be released soon.

 
 
 

Is an Eagle Reintroduction the Most Acceptable Option for Wales? - 2019 - 2020:

While we have now mapped all potential breeding areas in Wales for the Golden and White-tailed Eagle. While these areas mapped focus in on prime eagle breeding habitat, we also need to known if these breeding areas are compatible with modern-day land uses. For the Golden eagle, there are 12 upland and lowland bio-geographic breeding areas of focus in Wales. By contrast for the White-tailed eagle, we have mapped 14 coastal bio-geographic breeding zones of focus and 3 inland areas of breeding focus in Wales. In order to assess if the modern-day land use is compatible, we assessed the distribution of windfarms, urban areas and persecution incidents to predict possible breeding displacement in areas close to such land uses. We also assessed the distribution and proportion of eagle breeding habitat overlapping with livestock pastures and commercial forestry plantations, to assess the compatibility of habitat quality across breeding areas of focus. We now have a comprehensive picture of the land use in each breeding areas, how many nest sites are available and what’s areas are better suited than other in Wales. In relation to this research, the top three Welsh breeding areas for Golden eagles are: 1) Central Snowdonia National Park, 2) Black Mountains, and 3) Upper Snowdonia National Park. The top three breeding areas in Wales for the White-tailed Eagles are: 1) Mawddach Estuary, 2) Pembrokeshire National Park, and 3) Ceredigion Bay.

Now that we have a comprehensive picture that the Welsh landscape can hold breeding eagles, we can now look at prey availability and public attitudes in these areas. This should then complete most of our feasibility assessments to restore these iconic and charismatic species to Wales. Keep an #EagleEye out for our preliminary results and blogs to be released soon.