There’s been a lot of talk this week about the introduction of a few new eagles to Ireland after a 100-year absence, but why now and how many birds are there?
Ireland is filled with a vast array of wild life, but the one thing we’ve been missing for well over 100-years has been the majestic white tailed eagle.
Back in the late 19th century and into the early 20th century, there would have been plenty of nesting white tailed eagles along the west coast, but due to guns, poisons and other traps, the population quickly diminished to nothing.
So in order to make amends (albeit a late one) a re-introduction programme was set up in 2007 by Dr Allan Mee with the help of the government and some of the birds that were brought in from Norway have finally hatched their first Irish chicks.
Two chicks have been born in Mountshannon on Lough Derg in Co Clare, and the other chick was born in Killarney National Park, where the project began six years ago.
The programme has seen roughly 100 birds being released into the wild here in Ireland since 2007, but it has also attracted the attention of a few angry farmers who say the large birds of prey are a threat to their smaller animals.
According to RTÉ News, ‘at least 27 birds have been found dead. One was shot dead in Northern Ireland and 12 were confirmed poisoned’.
However, there are currently 12 pairs of birds nesting along the southwest coast and the news that two of the pairs are producing off spring is welcome news to everyone involved with the project. But be warned, you wouldn’t want to get too close…
“We are very conscious of the risk of disturbing the birds especially at this stage of nesting. I would stress that it is an offence under the Wildlife Acts to wilfully disturb white-tailed eagles at the nest. We would caution people not to approach the nest area but instead avail of the unique opportunity to watch from Mountshannon pier,” said Dr Allen Mee.
If you want to find out more about the white tailed eagles you should check out GoldenEagle.ie as they have everything you could ever want to know about the birds over there – no, seriously, they have EVERYTHING.
