Eagles once ruled Britain's skies A new study has revealed that
eagles were once evenly distributed throughout the UK. White-
tailed eagles and golden eagles can be found in Scotland at
present and are only occasional visitors to England. The white-
tailed eagle faced extinction in the UK in the early years of
the 20th century but has made a limited recovery through re-
introduction. Both species are thriving in Scotland although now
only occupying a fraction of their previous territory. According
to the research, published in the journal Bird Study, human
persecution and habitat destruction were the causes for the drop
in numbers in Britain and Ireland. The white-tailed eagles were
thought to have ranged the English uplands such as the Peak
District National Park and North York Moors. The golden eagles
may have been dispersed across lowlands in coastal and wetland
areas. Researchers have estimated the population of the eagles
between 500 AD and the present day by using historic records,
place-name analysis and