Civil Air Support, the UK’s leading volunteer aviation charity, is proud to announce its continued involvement in one of the most significant wildlife conservation efforts in recent history: the reintroduction of White-Tailed Eagles to southern England.
In July 2023 Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation announced that their project to return this species had hit a key milestone with the first of the released birds successfully breeding. Following this, Civil Air Support revealed its role in transporting young White-Tailed Eagles from Scotland to the South Coast. This mission supports the re-establishment of breeding colonies of these majestic birds, marking the first time in 240 years that they have nested in England.
This year, Civil Air Support has successfully transported another eight chicks to carefully chosen locations along the South Coast, in collaboration with Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. These young birds will grow into juveniles before being released into the wild, with the aim of achieving full maturity and breeding potential expected in three to four years.
Encouragingly, the birds first relocated by Civil Air Support in 2020 have already begun to thrive, with six healthy chicks hatching across Hampshire, Sussex, and Dorset – a promising sign for the future of the breed.
“It’s not every day you get to help reintroduce a species that’s been missing for centuries,” said Graham Mountford, Civil Air Support Operations Manager. “Flying these birds safely to their new home was a privilege and knowing they’ve now bred successfully makes it all the more rewarding.”
Helen Mountford, zoologist and Civil Air Support crew member, added: “Transporting these birds isn’t just about logistics – it’s about giving them the best possible start. Every flight is a step toward restoring balance to our ecosystems.”
White-Tailed Eagles with wingspans reaching up to 2.5 metres were once widespread across England. Human persecution led to their extinction, with the last recorded breeding pair in southern England in 1780. The current reintroduction programme is conducted under licence from Natural England, with chicks collected from wild nests in Scotland under licence from NatureScot. Civil Air Support ensures their safe transport to England, where they are released on the South Coast, each fitted with satellite tags to monitor their progress.
Steve Egerton-Read, White-Tailed Eagle Project Officer for Forestry England, commented: “Returning lost species like the White-Tailed Eagle is a key part of Forestry England’s approach to restoring biodiversity and helping nature to recover. We hope that in years to come these iconic birds will become a much more common sight, inspiring future generations and deepening their connection with nature.”
Ornithologist Tim Mackrill of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation emphasised the crucial role played by the aviation charity: “We are extremely grateful for the valuable support the project receives from Civil Air Support. The welfare of the birds is of paramount importance and being able to transport them to the Isle of Wight so quickly and efficiently is extremely helpful in this regard.”
Civil Air Support is honoured to contribute to this historic conservation initiative, helping to restore one of Britain’s most iconic species to its rightful place in our skies.
Images show the birds transported by Civil Air Support settling into their new environment
Civil Air Support 