Eagles, despite our propensity to venerate and torment top predators, hold a unique spot in our connection to the natural environment. Synonymous with conservation and restoration efforts in Ireland, these captivating birds of prey, boasting 2m-plus wingspans and capable of reaching speeds of 70km/hr in flight, once populated all of Ireland. However, changes in their habitats along with severe hunting that encompassed poisoning, shooting, trapping, and egg snatching led to their eradication by the beginning of the twentieth century.
The successful return of golden and white-tailed eagles over the last two decades is a tale of the foresight and dedication of the Golden Eagle Trust and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and their ability to create rapport with the agricultural community. This has also been made possible due to an increased ecological consciousness and the realisation that these noble raptors present minimal to zero threat to livestock, given their preference for fish, wreckage, and hare. Interestingly, the comeback of these eagles has sparked fresh veneration for local Irish wildlife, a sentiment highlighted by the public’s adverse response to poisoning or shooting incidents. The financial gains are noteworthy as well: eagle spotting, a popular activity on the Scottish isle of Mull, brings in a staggering £5-8 million per year for its modest population of 2,800.
Yet, despite the successful reintroduction of eagles as well as the osprey and red kite, challenges persist with habitat conservation. Wilderness areas in Ireland are continually under threat from housing projects, roads, singular crop forestry, and wind energy projects. At times, the effort to protect a solitary species sets up an unneeded dispute between environmental preservation and economic growth, when what we really need are large-scale habitat restoration programs along with ecologically sound land utilisation and power generation plans.
In fact, natural habits should be viewed as elaborate compilations where every organism has an essential part to play. For instance, eagles, as apex predators, provide services such as controlling disease spread by clearing carcasses. However, their existence shouldn’t hinge on their utility or economic contribution.
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Further complications are presented by challenges in implementing environmentally sensitive principles. Debates on conservation, economic growth and climate initiatives intensify over the construction of onshore wind farms. Bird fatalities due to collisions with turbines pose a significant problem, with reintroduced species failing to adhere to designated zones. Studies indicate that mature eagles keep clear of turbines, however disturbance to nests is an ongoing concern as eagles tend to abandon their nests if disturbed, taking years to recuperate before breeding pairs resume their activities.
Scotland, showcasing a thriving population of eagles, has established guidelines to aid decision-making regarding wind farms and potential impacts on bird habitats. Unfortunately, no such advice is available in Ireland, with An Bord Pleanála left to adjudicate potentially conflicting national policies on a case by case basis.
Inappropriately positioned onshore wind farms can critically affect sensitive habitats and species. Criticism has been directed at local authorities by the wind industry for the insufficiency of zones allocated for onshore wind, jeopardising Ireland’s goal to generate 80 per cent of its power from renewable sources by 2030. Wind Energy Ireland, in particular, asserts that refusal rates by An Bord Pleanála are on the rise due to what it perceives as “anti-wind” development plans enacted at county level.
Using the case of the proposed wind farm in Cloghercor, Co Donegal as an example, an initial designation of the site as amenable to wind energy development was altered during planning stages, following changes implemented in Donegal County Council’s county development plan. Rejection was advised by the Bord’s inspector, partially due to potential threats to protected species, despite the golden eagle not nesting on the site. It was also noted that the nest’s location was potentially distant enough from the site for proposed mitigation measures to be deemed sufficient.
Following the redrawing of zonal boundaries by the Donegal County Council, largely influenced by a surge in local pushback during their public consultation, wind power development in various parts of the county may be challenging to pursue, if not entirely unfeasible. Upon rejection by Bord Pleanála, confirmed recently, the Cloghercor project has now been discarded by its developers. This project would have been a collaborative effort between Orsted, a Danish company, and FuturEnergy, a partnership between Coillte and the ESB.
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Objectors often utilise environmental reasoning to thwart the development of wind farms. However, it’s typically the visual impact – that’s usually exaggerated – that genuinely irks most individuals. It’s imperative not to reserve our advocacy for species preservation only when it’s conveniently suited to our other interests. A balance needs to be struck between protecting eagles and facilitating wind farms; a compromise our planning system will need to incorporate is necessary.
Sadhbh O’Neill is an expert in environmental studies and climate change.