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SEA eagles are wreaking havoc with wildlife on Mull, according to some islanders.
The successful breeding of 15 pairs of eagles and 11 chicks has brought tourists to the island, but it has had a negative impact on other species, Mull Community Council was told. Reading about the concerns of some of Mull’s redidents bring to mind the attitudes of the Victorian era. One would have to ask have these attitudes changed at all in the last 150 years at all, or are we now going backwards. The plight of England’s Hen Harriers would seem to suggest we are.
Farmer Bert Leitch, of Lagganulva, said his lambs were being killed by the white-tailed eagles. He claimed a neighbouring farm, Knock, was also suffering losses this year.
The council has contacted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Scottish Natural Heritage over fears about puffin numbers on Treshnish.
Community councillor Fiona Brown also blamed sea eagles for the destruction of wildlife in the south of Mull. She said: “There is not a single rabbit left at Pennyghael. The hill used to be alive with them but now they are all gone.”
A spokeswoman for Scottish Natural Heritage said: “A study in 2003 showed that, while sea eagles take some lambs, they are either dead or in poor condition.
“We have set up a scheme where farmers can apply for funding to trial measures to improve the condition of sheep before and during the lambing season, helping to stop predation by eagles.”
RSPB Mull officer Dave Sexton said: “There are now more puffins breeding on Treshnish than there were before white-tailed eagles were reintroduced to Scotland in 1975.”
“Immature white-tailed eagles will sometimes gather in small numbers at autumn and winter roosts.
“Such gatherings gives rise to occasional concerns that there are suddenly too many of them.”
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Having just come back from Mull I can say that wildlife tourism is booming. Knowing the thoughts of many locals even around Geltsdale it takes an arm and a leg to make them change their minds to wildlife tourism. Certain problems come with Environmental Stewardship where the farmer can get paid even when his farm actually does not improve for the benefit of wildlife. One classic example was an orchid field which was allowed to be ‘mobbed stocked’ [too many cattle/sheep] at one time resulting in heavy nitrogen deposits from their behinds. Natural England claimed this was good practice!!!
Since when are stock owners keen on having loads of rabbits around the place?? – the usual BS from a noisey miniority of eagle hating fanatics. If these people are so concerned about Puffins maybe they should be campaigning against overfishing which is hitting all sea-birds.