Scots are being urged to look to the skies and report any sightings of a “miracle” White Tailed Eagle which was nursed back to health by its parents.
Last year, two White-Tailed Eagles on Mull stunned experts after spending a year caring for their injured chick.
A male chick had fallen from the pair’s nest in July 2023 during a bout of unseasonal rough weather, resulting in a significant break to its left wing.
White-Tailed Eagles chicks typically disperse in autumn, leaving their parents behind in order to fend for themselves.
However, the injury sustained by the chick meant it was unable to fly for several weeks after its uninjured sibling had already flown the nest.
When the bird did finally take to the skies it was nicknamed ‘Kinky’ by a local skipper due to the obvious kink in its wing as a result of the injury.
In behaviour never observed before in White-Tailed Eagles, the couple were spotted feeding fish to Kinky at a new nest site the following breeding season.
It was described by RSPB Ambassador Dave Sexton as a “miracle chick” and highlighted a caring side to the species not often seen.
Now, the RSPB is calling on people to report any sightings of the bird.
Although Kinky was able to fly his flight was described as wobbly, sparking fears he may have difficulty hunting for himself.
Yet Sexton stressed that White-Tailed Eagles are regular scavengers as well as hunters, meaning Kinky could potentially get by on deer, seal or bird carcasses even if he finds hunting difficult.
“We were all speechless when we heard and then saw Kinky still being cared for by mum and dad over a year after he should have started fending for himself,” he said.
“The local crew of Mull Charters boat trips kept an eye on him for me all summer and we last saw him in the late autumn.
“As the boat trips start up again soon and visitors arrive on Mull and the west coast, I’m really hoping someone spots him.
“His flight profile is unmistakable with that big kink in his left wing.
“It would be fantastic to hear that he’s alive and well and hopefully not still being the stay-at-home teenager!”
A juvenile White-Tailed Eagle like Kinky could have flown almost anywhere in Scotland, though it’s thought that due to his injury he may have stayed on Mull or the nearby mainland.
Anyone who spots Kinky is being asked to contact Sexton at david.sexton@rspb.org.uk, via X @skyeandfrisa or tag RSPB Scotland on social media.
