A final release of four Norwegian white-tailed eagles in Killarney National Park marked the culmination of the reintroduction programme that has brought this majestic bird back to the island.
First Flight: The reestablishment of Ireland’s white-tailed eagle population has been a success. This year’s eagle release in Killarney National Park marked the end of the project. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Last week, four Norwegian white-tailed eagles were released in their new habitat, Killarney National Park. The release marked the end of the White-Tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme, and nearly two decades of efforts to reestablish and strengthen Ireland’s eagle population. Both Norwegian and Irish partners were present to celebrate the success.
White-tailed eagles were once a native to Ireland but were driven to extinction by human persecution. When the project was initiated back in 2007, the eagles had been absent for more than a century.
Since then, 226 Norwegian eagles have been sent to Ireland, and the population is now considered robust enough to reproduce and expand without further augmentation from Norway.
Collaboration is key
Speaking in Killarney, The Irish Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan said:
“This programme has seen this mighty bird soar again in Irish skies and its success is a tribute to the NPWS and their colleagues in the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. Over 18 years work and collaboration has led to a growing white-tailed eagle population and also has seen habitat restoration and engagement with landowners and farmers to secure the eagles ongoing protection.
It is one of a number of key NPWS initiatives underway to restore our biodiversity. This is the second phase of this reintroduction project, and we now have evidence of white-tailed eagles breeding in counties further afield - from the south of the island in Cork right up to Donegal.”
Chicks from Trøndelag
Previously, white-tailed eagles were threatened also in Norway. However, since their protection in 1968, the population has grown significantly, and Norway now hosts the largest breeding population in Europe. The Norwegian Environment Agency has therefore granted permission to collect eagles to establish and strengthen the Irish population.
This month, the final 26 chicks will be released into the wild around Ireland.
An avid birdwatcher himself, O’Sullivan participated in collecting these young chicks in Norway earlier this year with researchers from NINA and local eagle experts.
White-tailed eagles usually nest in trees or on cliffs. But on exposed islets and skerries they may also nest on the ground.
To ensure that at least one chick remains in the nest with the parents, the birds are selected from nests with two or three chicks. As most eagle pairs raise only one chick, the local volunteers spend much time and efforts each year to locate such nests.
Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan, and Hans Kristian Werkland, local volunteer at Frøya, collecting eagle chicks in Norway. Photo: Camilla Næss/NINA
First Flight
Upon arrival, the young eagles are housed in purpose-built aviaries, where they can build strength and practice flying before being released. To minimize human contact, they are fed through a hatch in the back wall. Over the following weeks, the eagles develop their flight feathers, and the strength needed for flight.
On the day of the release, the cage is opened, and the eagles take flight into their new surroundings. Food is provided nearby to replicate the behaviour of adult birds, which dump food near the nest after chicks have fledged until the young birds have learned to forage for themselves.
“Everything points to the fact that we’ve made it! This is one of the highlights of my career. The project has worked on every level from introduction to the first Irish breeding and now having a stable population.
Thanks to the huge effort and the large team behind it, in both countries. The excellent cooperation with dedicated partners and local key people at all levels has been crucial. Behind this success lies a tremendous effort, from the very first release, to the first breeding on Irish soil, and now a stable and growing population”, says Duncan Halley, Senior Research Scientist in NINA and project coordinator in Norway.
Contact: Duncan Halley, Senior Research Scientist
Read more:
Restoring populations of White-tailed Sea Eagles in Europe
White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme marks successful completion with final release of chicks at Killarney National Park (NPWS)