Releasing a White-tailed Sea Eagle in Fife (Photo: Andy Hay/RSPB)

East Scotland Sea Eagles (ESSE) is a five-year partnership project between RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) to reintroduce the species to eastern Scotland, building on successful reintroductions on the west coast. This is the second year that chicks have been collected from nests in Norway, reared in specially constructed aviaries in Fife, and then released into the wild. The goal is to re-establish the birds in suitable habitat across Scotland.

ESSE will also play an important part in the strategy to restore Scotland's biodiversity in the years ahead, as part of the species action framework announced by SNH last year. As well as reintroducing sea eagles and beavers, 30 other species of mammals, birds, invertebrates and plants will have detailed conservation plans drawn up to ensure their long-term survival.

In 2007, the first year of the project, 15 chicks were released and travelled widely all over eastern Scotland. This year’s chicks will also be radio tagged, so that their progress can be tracked until they reach breeding age in three to five years’ time.

Environment Minister Michael Russell said: “The Sea Eagle is one of the cornerstones of Scotland’s species re-establishment programme and it will be an incredible experience for more people to see these huge birds in their natural environment.”

Sightings should be reported to Claire Smith, Sea Eagle Project Officer for RSPB Scotland, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .