Musician and sound artist Alice Boyd today releases her evocative new single, ‘Return of the White-Tailed Eagle’, a powerful collaboration with the RSPB. The track marks the 50th anniversary of the successful reintroduction of the UK’s largest bird of prey, which had previously been driven to extinction by persecution and habitat loss.
This transportive piece serves as a prelude to the forthcoming short film, ‘Return’ (out August 29), which documents the five-decade-long effort to bring the eagles back (watch the film trailer below).
The story deeply resonated with Boyd, whose recent work has explored the planet’s shifting soundscapes. “After documenting the diminished dawn choruses and the heightened noise pollution, it felt uplifting to hear about positive change and how this bird of prey had returned to the UK,” she explains.
To create the track, Boyd visited the RSPB’s Pulborough Brooks reserve, hoping to capture the eagle’s call. While the elusive bird remained silent, the experience proved profound. Six hours of patient observation yielded a wealth of ambient woodland sounds that form the song’s textured foundation. Boyd reflects, “Although it would have been nice to capture the bird’s voice, the rarity also added to the mythical quality of them as creatures.”
Advocacy is central to Boyd’s work, with collaborations spanning from Brian Eno and Hozier on the ‘Feat. NATURE’ initiative, to residencies at the Eden Project. Last year’s EP, Cloud Walking, was described by KLOF Mag’s Thomas Blake as “an expression of a profound connection between art and nature. Such a perfectly realised amalgamation of concept, melody and landscape is vanishingly rare, but Boyd achieves it with an easy grace.” This project continues that mission.
Mark Fountain, the RSPB’s Managing Multimedia Editor, praises the collaboration, noting, “We wanted this film to reach beyond nature lovers and develop a life of its own. By working with a brilliant musician like Alice and asking her to create an original song for the film we gained a whole new perspective on nature and the vital role that art must play in conservation.”
‘Return of the White-Tailed Eagle’ is a hopeful, atmospheric celebration of nature’s resilience, fusing art with ecological storytelling.
Stream ‘Return of the White-Tailed Eagle’ on all platforms now: https://ffm.to/wte
Read more about “Return” here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/white-tailed-eagle-film