Extinct for more than two centuries, White-Tailed Eagles have been taking flight in the west of Ireland once again under a programme to reintroduce the extraordinary birds.
Over the past week, twenty-four white-tailed eagle chicks have been released in locations around Lough Derg, the Shannon Estuary and the west of Ireland, as part of a long term reintroduction programme managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
White-tailed eagles are predators who play an important role in nature and the ecosystem. Once native to Ireland, they 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 to Ireland.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General with the NPWS said, “This programme is one of several initiatives underway in the NPWS to protect endangered species in Ireland and prevent their decline.”
“This work takes time, and calls for a partnership approach if it is to be sustainable in the long term.”
“Collaboration with the science community and international partners, along with the involvement of our expert staff and communities around the country has been key to the success we have seen so far.”
Since the programme began in 2007 a total of 171 white-tailed eagles have been reintroduced to the wilds of Ireland.
White-tailed eagle chicks are flown to Ireland from Norway each year, where they are cared for by the NPWS before being released into the wild.
Bente Lyngstad, chargé d’affaires at the Norwegian Embassy in Ireland said that watching the eagles be released was a “truly extraordinary and mighty” experience.
“Today’s stock in Ireland is the result of a long-term collaboration between Norway and Ireland, which again stems from our deep friendship and our shared values. I would like to acknowledge all volunteers whose efforts have been imperative to make this happen.”
“The retention of species is essential for maintaining the intricate web of life and the functioning of ecosystems. It contributes to the sustainable use of natural resources and the well-being of both present and future generations.”
“Yet we now see a rapid loss of species world-wide. This development must be halted. The reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles into their natural habitat is a great example of how we can work together against biodiversity loss.”
White-tailed Eagles feed on a wide variety of prey, including fish, waterbirds and carrion. They settle on territories around the coast and large freshwater lakes to breed.
A comprehensive satellite tagging system is now in place so that the birds can be monitored as they disperse around the country.
