The compelling story of how the white-tailed eagle returned to the UK
In 1918 the last white-tailed eagle in the UK was shot and killed. Return is a new RSPB film that celebrates one of the greatest comeback stories in UK nature, seen through the eyes of those who made it happen. Find out how a group of dedicated conservationists brought the white-tailed eagle back – and meet the next generation of nature lovers taking this story into the future.
Return is a 50-year story of repair and resilience. It documents the successful reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to the UK after their extinction due to human persecution in the early 20th century.
The film highlights that white-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, were once widespread across the UK, far more common than golden eagles, but were entirely gone by 1916 due to ‘outright persecution’.
It details early efforts, such as the initial reintroduction project on Fair Isle with birds from Norway, which was critical as one of the first reintroduction attempts of a large predator worldwide, despite being initially regarded as a failure due to unknown fates of the birds
The main reintroduction phase started in 1975 on the Isle of Rum, a collaborative project by the RSPB and NatureScot. John Love is credited as a crucial project officer for this phase, caring for young eagles imported from Norway
A significant moment depicted is the first successful fledging of white-tailed eagle chicks in 70 years, which occurred in 1985 on the Isle of Mull, an event meticulously guarded by wardens such as Dave Sexton. The project has since expanded, leading to reintroductions in Northern Ireland, Wales, and England, and the film includes the experience of getting the first white-tailed eagle chick in England out of the nest in 240 years for tagging
Challenges included public suspicion and anger, particularly from farmers who perceive white-tailed eagles as lamb killers. However, the film argues that eagles are often a ‘convenient scapegoat’ for lamb deaths caused by other factors like disease, weather, or other predation, with detailed observation suggesting they are not killing ”endless numbers of lambs’. It stresses the difficulty of gaining acceptance from local communities and the importance of ‘knitting them back into that fabric of the local community’.
There are now an estimated 200 pairs in Scotland, spreading inland into the Highlands and further east, with populations ‘on the rise’.
The reintroduction has been a ‘resounding success’ for the general public and local communities, becoming a major draw for wildlife tourism. A 2019 study estimated that white-tailed eagles support a minimum of £4.9 million in tourist spending per year, sustaining between 98 and 160 full-time jobs on the Isle of Mull alone.
See Geographical’s report earlier this year on the RSPB’s reintroduction of the white-tailed eagles.
The RSPB has submitted Return to the 2025 Better World Video Awards. You can find out more about the awards and how you could win a 7-night stay in Thailand or a £3,000 advertising package with Geographical magazine here.
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