White-tailed eagles successfully reintroduced to wild in Co. Kerry
Four white-tailed eagle chicks were released back into the wild at Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry today (August 9).
The chicks are among the final cohort of this phase of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) project which was originally established in 2007 and which, to date, has overseen the release of some 245 chicks into the wild.
The programme is ending following a number of releases around the country this month.
Once native to Ireland, the white-tailed eagle became extinct in the nineteenth century. Since 2007, the NPWS has been working with partners in Norway along with farmers and communities around the country to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle and establish a population in Ireland.
The white-tailed eagle is a bird of prey, and plays an important part in protecting our biodiversity.
All of the chicks are fitted with satellite tags so that their movements can be tracked as they disperse and establish in new areas.
The chicks are vulnerable to external factors such as adverse weather conditions, avian influenza, disease, and illegal poisonings.
Minister of State O'Sullivan said: "This programme has seen this mighty bird soar again in Irish skies and its success is a tribute to the NPWS and their colleagues in the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.
"Over 18 years work and collaboration has led to a growing white-tailed eagle population and also has seen habitat restoration and engagement with landowners and farmers to secure the eagles ongoing protection."
"It is one of a number of key NPWS initiatives underway to restore our biodiversity. This is the second phase of this reintroduction project, and we now have evidence of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties further afield - from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal," Minister of State O'Sullivan added.
According to the minister, this year in Killarney National Park, two chicks successfully fledged for the fourth year in a row.
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