Staff at Scotland’s RSPB Abernethy Nature Reserve in Cairngorms, where the eagle hatched, described it as “such a special moment”. It comes after the eggs were first spotted in a nest used by the Shona and Finn eagles in early March. The location of the nest remains secret, to avoid annoying the birds, but after both eagles rotated their eggs and protected them from the snow and recent storms, the RSPB Scotland confirmed that the first egg had hatched at 19.43 on April 8. A camera, hidden in a stick three meters away from the nest to avoid annoying the birds, captured the moment – with images of an eagle emerging and broadcast live at the Loch Garten Natural Center in Abernethy. Fergus Cumberland, Visitor Experience Manager for RSPB Scotland, said: “The public response to the eagles was enthusiastic and eager. “The true character and personalities of these birds are fully displayed for the public to know and it is a miracle to see them all unfold. “Now to see that they have hatched their first chick is unbelievable. We feel so privileged that we were able to witness such a special moment “. The white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in the United Kingdom with a wingspan of 2.5 meters. Photo: Lorne Gill / NatureScot / PA Also known as sea eagles, the white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in the United Kingdom with a wingspan of 2.5 meters. The birds became extinct in Scotland in 1918, but the Scandinavian eagles were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975. The subsequent re-imports to other parts of the country, as well as the naturally moving birds in the country, mean that there are now populations spread as far as Fife, Orkney and the North West Highlands. After hatching, white-tailed eagle chicks generally remain in the nest and are fed by their parents for about 12 weeks. After leaving the nest, they stay close and depend on their parents throughout the fall, before searching for their own area. Jess Tomes of RSPB Scotland said: “The next two weeks are crucial for this young eagle, as they can not regulate their body temperature for the first few days and are completely dependent on their parents to protect them from the worst source of Cairngorms. . . “It will be a very tense moment for everyone, but we welcome everyone to visit us in the center of nature and live these incredible moments.”
