White-tailed eagles are enjoying a resurgence in Finland. Also known as sea eagles, they have the largest wingspan of any birds in the country, stretching up to 2.4 metres across.
WWF eagle specialist Heikki Lokki says the raptors have recovered dramatically since the 1970s, when as few as five chicks were born annually in the country.
Their nesting efforts were often undermined by pollution in their bodies. As eagles are apex predators – meaning they are at the top of the food pyramid – their bodies accumulate all the pollutants found in their prey.
Pig carcasses in the archipelago
Since then, there have been tougher laws restricting pollution in the Baltic and decades of volunteer efforts, said Lokki. He recalled that some conservationists distributed pig carcasses on islands to help the eagles survive through difficult winters.
This summer, 421 sea-eagle chicks have been counted in Finland, Lokki said on Yle TV1's morning chat show on Tuesday.
In recent decades, white-tailed eagles have spread from Åland, the Archipelago and the Quark to the Ostrobothnian coast, parts of the Gulf of Finland, Lapland, Koillismaa and even the lake districts of central and eastern Finland. This spring chicks also hatched in Helsinki and Turku.
"White-tailed eagles must have peace and quiet during nesting season. But there are quiet areas in the islands off Helsinki and Turku," said Lokki.
Threats include windmills and trains
Besides environmental pollution, sea eagles are also threatened by poaching, high-tension power lines and wind turbines.
"White-tailed eagles are also killed by trains," explains Lokki. "Mammals are run over by trains and then eagles are attracted to the carcasses. They can then be surprised by trains rushing by and crash into them."
Lokki predicts that if current trends continue, the species may be removed from the critically endangered list here within the next five years.
