Golden Eagles Return to Northern England After 150 Years

[{"selector":"#anim-567b8569-ea84-44b7-bf8a-79eb8c0256d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-155aa918-51b8-4630-8682-ff604f79f5dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81acd6d2-9eab-4256-b701-edf5df1a9124","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eeb61007-3af2-45cb-92d9-5558028b99a6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Golden Eagles Return to Northern England After 150 Years Govind Tekale

Golden eagles are soaring over Northern England again after vanishing for more than 150 years – one man's shocking close encounter has bird watchers buzzing!

[{"selector":"#anim-4400f67a-8a1a-426d-8603-c401a353df58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2be23f3-e34a-48a1-9794-ca9e26c0efd0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e868eef-053b-4096-ac10-906ad7cd3aae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-598c3778-0d8b-4437-86ef-a792fcd1b7ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8617a9a6-5eff-45bd-97d5-18e21510083c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo credits: Giles Laurent (CC BY-SA 4.0)

1. Wildlife enthusiast Ian Glendinning never expected to see a golden eagle in Northumberland until one day in March when his friend shouted: "What on earth is that?"

[{"selector":"#anim-6e43fbc9-500c-4dad-91b3-e1b6f1a15abf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ef24950-875b-44af-a4df-9e09f70c4903","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.12348%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab5035e6-70af-4747-af83-59981add807f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-072d5101-640d-4f73-abaf-77557a9740e2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4edef84-0f5e-42b3-b7dc-071ee885b8f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credits: Imran Shah (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Just 30 meters away sat Talla, a massive golden eagle perched majestically on a rocky outcrop – "I would defy anyone not to be impressed seeing such a huge bird at close range," Glendinning recalled.

[{"selector":"#anim-640fd223-7058-4e05-a20a-06d83483b09c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e53928b-b8ff-4d8f-8306-383cec7bece9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c808d52c-191b-44de-af76-db72237b77a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa92a687-12b2-440a-bf77-405258013b06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d41a4ebc-a9c8-4e4d-a070-2e59342fff36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] P hoto Source: Animalia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Glendinning has spotted golden eagles three more times since that first encounter – what's bringing these magnificent birds back to England?

[{"selector":"#anim-f9f28ebd-24a6-4805-92ef-70656af16a7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-837ad556-cebb-4de6-b49c-820e998a8086","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.7807%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68c2115e-7cd2-41b2-ae80-dc25bc24f631","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a605aaf-8cbf-4774-aa49-4a5c43706768","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de9220d1-035b-4568-9d5a-07785cc3e1eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 3.0)

The birds are coming from Scottish Borders where their population has grown to about 50 eagles – a remarkable recovery from just a handful in 2018.

[{"selector":"#anim-2e1ef5fd-d718-4f96-9bc6-17a2fc0777cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd797469-1690-49e8-a7f3-dab65a1c56bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d8c2223-8b40-4972-a318-99d699e97b98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-435b8731-3c30-4561-a862-23633b2e54bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e85e0c6-66b2-4180-8768-a928336d0c8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credits: Lee Jay Fingersh (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Scientists have tracked eagles with satellite tags visiting the North Pennines, Lake District, and even flying as far as Lancashire and Yorkshire.

[{"selector":"#anim-d1301e73-45dd-45e1-ae97-4137abab0448","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf6e099c-bb60-4cf0-b8ba-bc4e85b13c64","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6420340-e3f4-403a-af41-1e0569441145","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f27581be-1e26-4d0c-94d9-64829208d666","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b0caa21-e5ba-4161-bd4c-f8b7d0a21022","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Pixabay (CC0 1.0)

Golden eagles disappeared from England in the mid-1800s when they were killed by people who feared they would attack farm animals and game birds.

[{"selector":"#anim-fc1533a5-15a3-49c1-88a0-0a1d0fd8d800","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d6c9e68-ddab-4f7d-a39a-13f6aa137808","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cb9cc8c-5ea8-45ad-8e93-a1afe78d0188","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ba10f59-39a9-4c25-b0e2-05aaa7c7fc44","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe1e2c1e-12bc-49d3-99dc-493e60c32e46","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Vidmulia (CC BY-NC 4.0)

The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has relocated 43 eagles from the Scottish Highlands – including 28 babies and 15 older birds – giving them a second chance.

[{"selector":"#anim-bb936ac9-d0bf-4373-8ac5-3190a8360d30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc39f8d7-9861-40b7-a2b6-f8af93454fbc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 164.43004%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63d7795d-a42a-4cf9-bf72-b29fd4ca7aff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88fd6145-9f83-4e86-9d79-19ecd3de4a1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ddd3b61-c75c-47dc-8ff1-e2ab23cbd0f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Young eagles naturally explore new territories: "They'll get up high in the sky and head for areas that look interesting to them, usually remote uplands," explains Dr. Cat Barlow.

[{"selector":"#anim-9c2c51b7-120b-46f8-ae5b-8358f828c67f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38a9f1ed-a606-496e-a296-1cddea436722","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed2a6ef7-6919-453d-bc50-30aef8ca9a5e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-247d2a8c-562f-40d5-a4b9-e846e080de67","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4166823f-703d-4596-bae7-17cbc09ad0f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Will these magnificent birds stay and nest in England again? Their return shows how nature can recover when given a chance – "They just fit perfectly with the landscape... It feels like they belong here."

[{"selector":"#anim-2cff53f1-b9ed-4c05-842f-2fc1fca955ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4432716c-2d21-4e35-aa3a-3da8c637920d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.31003%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e563cc5-b93b-4ecd-bd60-bf5ca979d508","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c41c71d-76df-424f-a0f9-04bda8de0688","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-384ccfe6-16f6-46e0-81f7-7c2adfefd4a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credits: Tony Hisgett (CC BY 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-c88bbaef-e2e2-4665-be2a-5028f8251d9a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3c338c6-7138-4d1f-a0bc-ec90e135dcee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-438fd8a9-2a01-4e3b-a613-8286900ba8f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac0af078-145f-46e6-aec5-d75c3d4ea213","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf6682b6-a038-4263-b1cb-b3adc6753bf5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Snowy Owl Numbers Drop 40% in Canada Learn more