Duncan Maclean highlights the impact of increasing sea eagle populations on his farm after losing multiple lambs to the birds.
A heartbreaking incident unfolded on a farm in Uist, Outer Hebrides, when Duncan Maclean, a part-time farmer, witnessed two sea eagles snatching his newborn lambs. The event occurred on a Friday morning while Maclean was tending to his ewes. The 40-year-old farmer had noticed the increasing threat posed by the sea eagles, or white-tailed eagles, which have become more prevalent in the area since their reintroduction from Norway in 2007.
Maclean reported that he has already lost approximately six lambs to these birds of prey this season, with the financial loss amounting to £80-100 per lamb. He expressed his frustration at the sight of the eagles carrying off his prized animals, stating, “It’s very frustrating and disheartening to see. We knew it had been happening because we notice the missing lambs but actually seeing it made me angry,” as quoted in the Daily Mail.
The incident highlights a troubling trend for rural farmers like Maclean, who manage a modest herd of around 200 ewes and 10 cows. He explained that losing a significant number of lambs has considerable repercussions for a small operation such as his. “We’re not a big patch… so losing this many lambs has a big impact on us,” he remarked.
Maclean’s observations indicate a shift in the behaviour of the sea eagles over the years. He noted that the birds were not a significant problem when he began farming; however, their population seems to have exploded, leading to multiple eagles being sighted in the skies simultaneously. “It used to not be an issue at all. I remember starting to see one or two about five years ago but there still wasn’t a big problem. These days you will see multiple in the air at any one time,” he commented.
Moreover, Maclean has identified a particular hunting strategy employed by the sea eagles. They appear to target ewes delivering twins, swooping down to capture the firstborn lamb while the mother is distracted by birthing the second. He observed, “We’ve had ewes who have scanned showing twin lambs and then when we have checked on them after giving birth, there’s only one lamb.”
Despite attempts to mitigate the situation—including relocating the sheep to different fields and employing scare tactics such as scarecrows—Maclean indicated that the eagles are not easily deterred. “It feels like the eagles have just been far too successful in their reintroduction,” he said. The situation reflects a growing concern among local farmers, with Maclean concluding that he is not alone in facing the challenges presented by these birds of prey.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9hbykm – This video supports the claim of sea eagles snatching newborn lambs in Uist, Outer Hebrides, as witnessed by farmer Duncan Maclean.
- https://www.tiktok.com/@scottishdailyrecord/video/7488671271094439190 – This TikTok video corroborates the incident of sea eagles snatching baby lambs on a Scottish island.
- https://www.newsflare.com/video/734373/moment-sea-eagles-snatch-newborn-lambs-as-farmer-looks-on – This news article describes the moment sea eagles snatched newborn lambs as farmer Duncan Maclean looked on.
- https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-us/conservation/white-tailed-eagle/ – This RSPB page provides information on the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles from Norway, which has led to an increase in their population in Scotland.
- https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/discover-wildlife/species-finder/birds/eagles/helander/white-tailed-eagle – This Wildlife Trusts page explains the habitat and behavior of white-tailed eagles, which could relate to their hunting strategies observed by Maclean.
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/white-tailed-eagle-introduction-to-scotland-2007-2011/project-plan/ – This Scottish Government publication details the plan for the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to Scotland from 2007, which has contributed to their increased presence.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The story does not contain specific dates or context indicating it might be old news. However, the narrative about sea eagles being an increasing threat since their reintroduction in 2007 could have been reported previously, but without further context or similar reports, it seems recent.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
The quotes from Duncan Maclean are included, but they appear to be sourced from other publications (e.g., Daily Mail), which indicates they might not be original to this piece. Without access to the earliest known reference online, it’s difficult to verify their original source.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Star, which is a tabloid publication. While it is not as reputable as some other news outlets like the BBC or Financial Times, it is a known publication. The authenticity of the story would be better supported by confirmation from more authoritative sources.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about sea eagles posing a threat to lambs are plausible and consistent with known behavior of these birds. The reintroduction of white-tailed eagles from Norway in 2007 is a verifiable event, supporting the plausibility of this narrative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative about sea eagles in the Outer Hebrides is plausible and recent, but the source reliability is somewhat limited due to the type of publication. The lack of direct verification for Duncan Maclean’s quotes adds uncertainty. Overall, while plausible, further confirmation would be beneficial for a definitive verdict.
