Latest news with #NationalParksandWildlifeService
Agriland
4 days ago
- General
- Agriland
Investigation following suspected poisoning of eagle in Clare
An investigation is underway following the discovery of one of Ireland's oldest breeding white-tailed eagles, Caimin who was found dead in Clare last Saturday (May 24). Initial post-mortem examination results from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory indicate a possible death from poisoning. Caimin held territory at the Mountshannon nest site on Lough Derg for the past 17 years. During that time, he mated and fledged a number of chicks. He was one of the first chicks to arrive as part of a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Reintroduction Programme to bring back this formerly extinct species to Irish skies and was released from Killarney National Park in 2008. All of the white-tailed eagle chicks reintroduced under the programme are fitted with satellite tags, which enables them to be monitored and tracked. White-tailed eagle In 2013, Caimin mated with Saoirshe, 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. Caimin raised and fledged chicks into the wild until 2016, when Saoirshe died of avian influenza (bird flu). He held the territory and mated again with Bernardine in 2023 to successfully fledge more chicks to the wild from the same nest site in Mountshannon. Despite the loss of her mate, Bernardine is continuing to raise a chick on the nest site in Mountshannon. Minister of State for nature, heritage and biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan said: 'Any loss in the wild not due to natural causes, is usually the result of human activity and this tragic loss of a wonderfully aged bird, breeding happily in the Irish wild, is deeply regrettable. 'The Reintroduction Programme had been making significant progress in restoring this lost flagship species to Irish skies. These birds are part of Ireland's natural heritage and are important for our biodiversity, as they are a good indicator species regarding the health of our ecosystems. 'We will continue with our efforts to introduce, nurture and protect these birds and I have tasked the NPWS with leaving no stone unturned to try to get to the bottom of this heinous potential crime.' Divisional manager, NPWS, Eamonn Meskell said: 'The knowing destruction of this wonderful bird of prey displays a wanton disregard for our re-introduction and nature protection efforts. 'These noble birds are beloved of the public and each loss is keenly felt by them and indeed by the staff of NPWS who have nurtured these birds from chicks to fledglings, onto adult life and into successfully breeding pairs. 'We know we can rely on the public's help in this investigation' According to the NPWS, the main threat to the species in Ireland is persecution, predominantly through shooting and the illegal use of poison and wind turbine strikes. The misuse/illegal use of poisons accounts for nearly 50% of eagle deaths where the cause of mortality was able to be determined, according to the agency. Other causes of death include wind turbine strikes, lead shot poisoning and shooting. Avian Influenza and adverse weather also negatively impacted the breeding population. Anyone with information which maybe useful to the investigation is urge to notify a local garda station or the local NPWS office.
The Journal
4 days ago
- General
- The Journal
Possible poisoning of white-tailed eagle an ‘uppercut to reintroduction but won't knock it back'
THE FIRST MALE white-tailed eagle to breed in Ireland in over a century has been found dead in Co Clare and was possibly poisoned. The white-tailed eagle, known as Caimín, held territory at the Mountshannon nest site at Lough Derg in Co Clare for the past 17 years. Eamonn Meskell is head of the National Parks and Wildlife Service programme to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle to Ireland. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Meskell described Caimín's death as an 'uppercut to the reintroduction project, but not one that's going to knock us back'. Caimín was found dead last Saturday and an investigation is now under way into the circumstances of his death. Initial post-mortem results from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory indicate poisoning as a possible cause of death. While Meskell said white-tailed eagles don't often die from poisoning, he warned that he has 'disturbingly noticed an increase in poisonings over the last three to five years'. Advertisement 'We've lost chicks to poisoning and rodenticide poisoning, and the initial autopsy shows that Caimín likely succumbed to rodenticide poisoning as well,' said Meskell. File image of a white-tailed eagle in flight Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo He explained that Caimín was taken from a wild nest in Norway in 2008 and was among the first consignment of 20 white-tailed eagle chicks to be sent from Norway to Ireland. Meskell said these chicks that were delivered to Ireland in 2008 were nurtured and then released into the wild with satellite tags. 'Lo and behold, five years later, Caimín mated with another white-tailed eagle chick from Norway that was released in Killarney National Park,' Meskell explained. 'They were the first pair to breed successfully and 'fledge', which means that the chicks flew from the nest in Mountshannon in 2013, and that sparked off eco tourism there and 10,000 people visited to see the eagles and chicks that year.' Caimín and Saoirse had 15 chicks, before Saoirse died of avian flu. But Caimín went onto breed once more with another eagle called Bernardine who arrived in Ireland as part of a later consignment from Norway. 'Even though Caimín was picked up dead earlier this month, Bernardine is on the nest, raising a chick now in Mountshannon as we speak, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.' 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
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- 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
7 days ago
- RTÉ News
Fencing project won't protect Doonbeg sand dunes beside Trump's Irish hotel
A wildlife inspector said the destruction of sand dunes at a beach beside Donald Trump's luxury Irish hotel was unlikely to be halted by a simple fencing project. The National Parks and Wildlife Service agreed to a €3,500 trial for temporarily erecting a chestnut fence at two locations at Doughmore Beach in Doonbeg, Co Clare. They said they were working with the Trump Doonbeg resort and locals to try and combat erosion and plant marram grass to hold sand together. However, in internal discussions, a senior wildlife inspector said fencing as a "single one-off action" was not recommended because it would not address the underlying cause of damage. An email said problems with sand dunes were usually caused by beach visitors or grazing animals and that fencing can only be temporary or short-term. It said fencing was unlikely to deter visitors from climbing dunes and that any project needed to be backed up by communication for "changing people's behaviour". "Well-designed positive signage can be helpful, but in practice, it seems like the most effective approach is to have a physical presence on the beach at peak times," the message said. "A part time warden or education officer at peak times can help people to use the beach in a more sustainable way," it added. It also said fencing could create its own problems by trapping sand, where it could pile up while doing nothing to support the dunes. "If people have developed a habit of accessing specific locations, they are likely to find a way to continue their normal activities in spite of the fencing … or they might move on to another spot, so the impact is simply diverted," the message said. It said the Doonbeg beach would need a particularly good communications plan so that local people understood why access was being restricted. The email said there were tracks running through the dunes parallel to the shore that represented a "serious vulnerability to … stability." "The important message is to encourage people to walk and sit on the beach, rather than in or near the fore dunes, and to bring their own beach shelters if they need them," the email said. The wildlife inspector said particular care would need to be taken with one section of dune and that fencing there could make things worse. "The foot traffic in this area seems pretty consistent, and it could be that the erosion was exacerbated by the loss of the foredune due to trampling," the email said. "Keeping people off the area is the first step to take. The question is, if you erect a fence at the base, is sand going to build up there?" it added. Asked about the conservation work at Doughmore Beach, the NPWS said they had been working closely with the landowner and the local community to protect an important ecological site. A spokesperson said: "A plan was developed which involves the temporary seasonal erection of chestnut fencing at two locations of concern along the beach. This will be complemented by Marram [grass] planting at the two locations". "Labour for the project will be provided by the landowner, and members of the local community will assist in the Marram planting," the spokesperson added.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Destruction of sand dunes at beach near Donald Trump's Clare hotel caused by visitors, wildlife inspector says
A wildlife inspector said the destruction of sand dunes at a beach beside Donald Trump's luxury Irish hotel was unlikely to be halted by a simple fencing project. The National Parks and Wildlife Service agreed to a €3,500 trial for temporarily erecting a chestnut fence at two locations at Doughmore Beach in Doonbeg, Co Clare. It said it was working with the Trump Doonbeg resort and locals to try and combat erosion and plant marram grass to hold sand together. However, in internal discussions, a senior wildlife inspector said fencing as a 'single one-off action' was not recommended because it would not address the underlying cause of damage. An email said problems with sand dunes were usually caused by beach visitors or grazing animals and fencing could only be temporary or short-term. It said fencing was unlikely to deter visitors from climbing dunes and any project needed to be backed up by communication for 'changing people's behaviour". The message said: 'Well-designed positive signage can be helpful, but in practice, it seems like the most effective approach is to have a physical presence on the beach at peak times. 'A part-time warden or education officer at peak times can help people to use the beach in a more sustainable way.' It also said fencing could create its own problems by trapping sand, where it could pile up while doing nothing to support the dunes. The email continued: 'If people have developed a habit of accessing specific locations, they are likely to find a way to continue their normal activities in spite of the fencing … or they might move on to another spot, so the impact is simply diverted.' It said the Doonbeg beach would need a particularly good communications plan so local people understood why access was being restricted. The email said there were tracks running through the dunes parallel to the shore that represented a 'serious vulnerability to … stability". 'The important message is to encourage people to walk and sit on the beach, rather than in or near the fore dunes, and to bring their own beach shelters if they need them,' the email said. The wildlife inspector said particular care would need to be taken with one section of dune and fencing there could make things worse. An email said: 'The foot traffic in this area seems pretty consistent, and it could be that the erosion was exacerbated by the loss of the foredune due to trampling. 'Keeping people off the area is the first step to take. The question is, if you erect a fence at the base, is sand going to build up there?' Asked about the conservation work at Doughmore Beach, the NPWS said it had been working closely with the landowner and the local community to protect an important ecological site. A spokesperson said: 'A plan was developed which involves the temporary seasonal erection of chestnut fencing at two locations of concern along the beach. This will be complemented by marram [grass] planting at the two locations. 'Labour for the project will be provided by the landowner, and members of the local community will assist in the marram planting.' Read More
