Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
181. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the white-tailed sea eagle programme following the release of 21 chicks into the wild over the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46461/21]
View answerI am delighted to have the opportunity to provide the Deputy with an update on this important and highly successful biodiversity project.
The birds released in August this year were part of the second Phase of this project to reintroduce this magnificent bird to Irish skies. Once a conspicuous part of Ireland’s landscape, they were driven to extinction by human persecution here in the late Nineteenth Century. The first Phase ran from 2007-2011, managed by NPWS and the Golden Eagle Trust, when 100 chicks were released into the wild. Since then, over 35 Irish-born chicks have fledged here, some of whom have begun to rear their own chicks. Indeed, this year one nesting pair on Lough Derg produced three chicks. This is uncommon, even in the very extensive wild populations in Norway.
The Second Phase was launched last year, when ten Norwegian-born chicks were flown into Ireland and released into the wild on the Shannon Estuary and Lough Derg. Of these ten, an astonishing nine are still alive, and have travelled throughout the country, with one even travelling to Scotland.
In August 2021, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and partners released a further twenty-one Norwegian-born Eagle chicks into the wild to bolster Ireland’s existing White-Tailed Eagle population from a number of locations in Cork, Kerry, Clare and Waterford. They were collected from nests by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research in June this year, and were imported to Ireland via Kerry Airport. They were kept in purpose-built enclosures while they grew, matured, and developed the feathers and muscles necessary for flight.
All 21 of the chicks are out in the natural environment and doing well. The birds will remain local for another 4/5 weeks and will then move out to explore and find new areas. All of the eagles are satellite tagged and readings are taken every day to discern their movements and locations.
The success of both this year's and last year’s releases was thanks to the hard work of both the NPWS staff and the input and assistance of other interested parties. These include representatives of the IFA, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, and in particular local landowners and farmers, without whose enthusiastic support in monitoring nest sites and care of birds the Project could not succeed. The Project represent the ongoing cooperation of these different groups who are seeking to restore a lost element of Ireland’s natural heritage.
Returning this lost flagship species to Irish skies will be a huge step in restoring Irish natural heritage and improving Irish conservation efforts, and will benefit Irish biodiversity more broadly.
