Eagles have landed at secret location in comeback move

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said the 19 chicks from Norway arrived at Edinburgh Airport on Friday.

They have now been taken to purpose-built aviaries at a secret location in Fife, where they will stay until they are strong enough to fledge.

Scotland's Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, was at the airport to see the chicks arriving.

She said: "The white-tailed sea eagle was lost to Scotland in the past and we have a duty to re-establish its presence here.

"The East of Scotland project is building on what has already been achieved in the west for this amazing species, where it has become a huge tourist attraction. All of this is of course about protecting and restoring our biodiversity; something that is everyone's responsibility and to everyone's benefit. And I am particularly pleased to welcome the chicks during what is the International Year of Biodiversity."

The adult birds are affectionately known as "flying barn doors" due to their massive 8ft wing span.

The reintroduction programme in the east of Scotland – involving RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland – is now in its fourth year.

The latest batch of chicks is the largest since the programme began and is said to be the result of a good breeding season in Norway.

Claire Smith, RSPB Scotland's sea eagle project officer, said: "Since the project started in 2007 we've had over 2,000 sightings of these wonderful birds."

The birds' presence on Mull in the west of Scotland is currently worth over 1.5m to the local economy.