Latest news with #EamonnMeskell
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Four white-tailed eaglets released back into the wild
Four white-tailed eaglets have been released back into the wild at Killarney National Park, as part of a final year re-introduction programme to Ireland. Around 250 white-tailed sea eaglets have been let soar across the skies over the country in the final part of a 20-year programme. Once native to Ireland, the white-tailed eagle became extinct in the nineteenth century. The first eagles were brought to Killarney National Park from Norway in 2007. It was the first stage of the programme to re-introduce the large bird of prey and establish a population in Ireland. Eamonn Meskell is Divisional Manager at NPWS, Killarney National Park. He says the white-tailed eagle plays an important part in protecting our biodiversity. "All of us at Killarney National Park welcome the white-tailed eagles returning to nest, breed and fledge their chicks. The Park provides the perfect nesting habitat, with its old, tall oak and pine trees, quiet surroundings and an ample supply of fish available in the lakes for their survival." Speaking in Killarney, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan paid tribute to the collaboration between farmers and the NPWS and landowners as well as the Norwegian partners. "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," he said. "There is evidence now of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal." He said Killarney was a "special place" for the white-tailed eagle. "This year, in Killarney National Park, two chicks have successfully fledged for the fourth year in a row. So, whilst we are sad to see the programme come to a close this year, it leaves a lasting legacy in the skies." All of the chicks are fitted with satellite tags so that their movements can be tracked as they disperse and establish in new areas. Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland, Aslak Brun said: "I am impressed with the Irish-Norwegian cooperation to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle to Ireland. Eagles are once again spreading their wings in Ireland, thanks to wildlife experts and volunteers from both our countries. "We have the obligation to protect nature and halt the loss of biodiversity. It is my hope that the unique cooperation to reintroduce eagles will serve as an inspiration for other wildlife projects." Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General with the NPWS said: "This reintroduction programme really is a flagship initiative for NPWS, as it reflects so many elements of our conservation work - time and care, using science and best practice, combined with strong community engagement and partnership."
The Journal
6 days ago
- General
- The Journal
The white-tailed sea eagle has successfully been re-introduced to Ireland
UP TO 150 white-tailed sea eagles have now taken to the skies in Ireland, as the final year of a reintroduction programme, launched almost 20 years ago, kicks to touch. A total of 26 chicks will be reintroduced to Ireland this year through a programme by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and their Norwegian partners. Four of them will be released from Killarney National Park this weekend. The first sea eagles were brought to the park in Co Kerry in 2007, in what was the first phase of the programme to bring back the large bird of prey to Ireland. The bird was shot out and poisoned in the 19th century. Since 2007, the programme has been a success. Despite some instances of poisonings, including three this year, the population of sea eagles is now healthy enough to sustain itself into the future, the NPWS believes. Advertisement Eamonn Meskell, a divisional manager with the NPWS at the park, believes the green space in Kerry provided the perfect nesting habitat for the birds, with its old, tall oak and pine trees, quiet surroundings 'and an ample supply of fish available in the lakes'. Junior minister for nature Christopher O'Sullivan has paid tribute to the collaboration between farmers, the NPWS and landowners in Ireland as well as the state's partners in Norway, 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 eagle's ongoing protection,' he said. There was evidence now of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal. More releases are planning throughout the end of this year. Every chick is fitted with a satellite tag, so that their movements can be tracked as they disperse and establish in new areas. The chicks are also vulnerable to external factors such as adverse weather conditions, avian influenza, disease, and illegal poisonings. Aslak Brun, Norway's Ambassador to Ireland, said he hoped the programme will lead to future reintroduction projects between the two countries. Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the NPWS, said the project displayed 'best practice' for future ventures. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Four white-tailed sea eagles to be released in Killarney National Park in final year of programme
Almost 250 white-tailed sea eagles have taken to the skies over the country as the final year of a re-introduction programme - which began almost two decades ago - nears completion. This year alone the re-introduction programme by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Norwegian partners will see 26 chicks released to the wild - with four of those chicks being released from Killarney National Park this weekend. The park is where the first sea eagles were brought from Norway in 2007 in what was the first phase of the programme to bring back the large bird of prey, shot out and poisoned in the 19th century. A total of 245 chicks have been re-introduced from Norway since 2007. Killarney National Park provides the perfect nesting habitat, with its old, tall oak and pine trees, quiet surroundings 'and an ample supply of fish available in the lakes for their survival,' said Eamonn Meskell, Divisional Manager NPWS, Killarney National Park. Minister of State Christopher O'Sullivan paid tribute to the collaboration between farmers and the NPWS and landowners as well as the Norwegian partners. '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,' he said. There is evidence now of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal. However, Killarney was 'a special place for the white-tailed eagle,' he said. 'So, whilst we are sad to see the programme come to a close this year, it leaves a lasting legacy in the skies.' 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 - with three poisonings this year, two of which occurred in Kerry, and investigations continuing.
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Rare eagle found dead in Clare
Eamonn Meskell, National Parks and Wildlife Service Project Manager for the White-Tailed Eagle reintroduction project discusses the suspected poisoning of a White-Tailed eagle in Clare.
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Breeding white-tailed eagle dies from suspected poisoning
An investigation is under way following the death of one of Ireland's oldest breeding white-tailed eagles. Caimín was found dead in Co Clare last Saturday and initial post-mortem results from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory indicate poisoning as a possible cause of death. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) Project Manager for the white-tailed eagle reintroduction project, Eamonn Meskell, said that there has been an increase in poisonings of the birds over the last five years. "We have satellite tags on all of our white-tailed eagle chicks that we release, and we find that when they stop or they become stationary, we will go out and pick them up," he said. "We've lost chicks to carbon fuel and poisoning and rodenticide poisoning, and the initial autopsy shows that (Caimín) likely succumbed to rodenticide poisoning as well." Caimín has held territory at the Mountshannon nest site on Lough Derg since 2008 and during that time, mated and fledged a number of chicks. In 2013, Caimín mated with Saoirse, a female eagle who was also part of the reintroduction programme. They became the first white-tailed eagles to successfully raise and fledge chicks in the wild in Ireland in over 100 years. "That sparked off a really positive thing up in Mountshannon," said Mr Meskell.
