The first four white-tailed sea eagles of 2021, part of a batch of 27 from Norway, are about to embark on their first taste of freedom in Killarney National Park. Having flown into Farranfore in late June, the young birds from Trondheim, aged between eight and 11 weeks, have been acclimating themselves to the Irish climate and nurturing their fledgling flight feathers in their national park enclosure.
There are more birds awaiting release in Lough Corrib, and another nine chicks are being cared for in the Shannon estuary. They are expected to be released within the upcoming weeks.
Initiated in 2007, the programme to bring back the white-tailed sea eagles – Ireland’s largest birds of prey – initially relocated ten chicks to Killarney as part of a five-year plan. Overall, 100 chicks were released in the plan’s first phase. The fresh phase, beginning in 2020, anticipates liberating the chicks in a broader range of areas.
To trace their migration and settlement into fresh territories, all chicks are fitted with satellite tags. As per Dr Philip Buckley from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), tracking and surveillance show that the birds are nesting and reproducing in a range of places in Ireland.
The chicks remain susceptible to specific threats such as deleterious weather, avian influenza, disease, and illicit poisoning or shootings.
Nonetheless, the initial disapproval from the agricultural community for these large birds of prey (whose wingspan reaches 8ft) seems to be subsiding, with the creatures now largely embraced. Preying on carrion and fish, the eagles are not believed to have caused any trouble with live lambs locally.
Niall Ó Donnchú, who holds the position of director general at the NPWS, expressed that the program for reestablishing the eagle population embodies the epitome of their conservation efforts, encapsulating aspects such as dedication, application of research, best practices, robust community interaction and collaboration.
Eamon Meskell, who serves as the divisional manager of NPWS at Killarney National Park, described the park as an optimal location for eagle habitation due to elements such as towering ancient oak and pine trees, serene environment, and a plentiful source of fish in the lakes, essential for their survival.
According to reports, none of the eagles that were relocated have attempted to return back to their homeland, Norway, owing to the fact that they are not migratory creatures.
The year 2024 has been hailed as a successful year for eagle propagation in Ireland, with the establishment of around 15 breeding pairs – an unprecedented number – yielding offspring from a dozen of these pairs.