Golden Eagles are returning to England

Golden eagles are incredible, magnificent birds. They rule the skies, serving as a keystone species, affecting entire ecosystems. 

Once, according to Positive.News, these birds were a common sight in England. So much so that Shakespeare mentions them at least 40 times in his works. However, during the Victorian era, the Golden Eagle was nearly extinct, and they haven’t been seen over England’s skies in over 150 years. Now, a new program is hoping to change that. 

Eagles and Beavers
The push to reintroduce the golden eagle into England’s ecosystem comes at the heels of a feasibility study done by Forestry England, a non-profit focused on the country’s forests. The study discovered eight potential recovery zones for the birds, mostly in northern England. The next step is to figure out the practicalities of releasing the eagles, which may happen as early as 2027. 

Eagles are not the only animal that is being restored to the English landscape. In 2025, the government approved a project focused on reintroducing the Eurasian beaver to England’s rivers and streams. In both cases, the animals were chosen because they have an outsized affect on their ecosystems. 

As mentioned above, golden eagles are a keystone species. This means that they are an apex predator and their presence in an ecosystem helps maintain the balance by regulating prey populations and influencing animal behavior. 

Though it will take some time, generations even, before the golden eagle population returns to its former numbers, conservationists and eagle-enthusiasts in England have taken heart from similar efforts to the north, in Scotland. There the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has been successful at raising the number of golden eagles in the region through a careful mix of translocation and habitat management. 

Farmers have a Say
One of the primary concerns regarding the reintroduction program, reported the BBC, is farmers and their livelihoods, especially sheep farmers. There are fears that the eagles, as predators, could have a negative effect on valuable lamb stock.

However, Tom Orde-Powlette, a landowner and estate manager at Bolton Hall Estate told the BBC, “It might not all be negative though – there is anecdotal evidence that golden eagles might see off many other more generalist predators such as buzzards or red kites, so they could have a positive impact.”  

Reintroducing an animal into its former ecosystem is not as simple as one may think. There are an incredible number of factors to take into account, from climate changes to technological changes, and yes, local industries. However, the reintroduction of various species, especially keystone species, throughout the world has shown that their effect on the ecosystem can truly revitalize entire regions. 

Here’s hoping that over the next few years golden eagles will be seen in all their glory over the skies of England.