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https://weatheire.com/news/2025/08/09/4735/irelands-eagle-comeback-latest-batch-of-chicks-set-free/>
"Four white-tailed eagle chicks were released into the wild on Friday at
Killarney National Park in County Kerry, marking the final phase of the
National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) reintroduction programme.
The project, which began in 2007, has so far overseen the release of 245 chicks
across Ireland as part of efforts to restore the species after more than a
century of extinction.
Once native to Ireland, the white-tailed eagle disappeared in the nineteenth
century due to human persecution. Since 2007, the NPWS has worked closely with
partners in Norway, as well as local farmers and communities, to reintroduce
the bird and establish a self-sustaining population in the wild. The
white-tailed eagle plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity as a top
predator.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan
TD spoke at the release event in Killarney, praising the programme’s success.
He said, “This project has brought the white-tailed eagle soaring again in
Irish skies. It is the result of 18 years of collaboration between NPWS and the
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, alongside local communities and
landowners. We now have breeding pairs from Cork in the south right up to
Donegal in the north.”
Killarney National Park has become a key stronghold for the species, with two
chicks fledging successfully for the fourth consecutive year. All released
chicks are fitted with satellite tags to monitor their movements and survival
as they disperse. Despite the progress, the birds remain vulnerable to threats
such as adverse weather, disease, and illegal poisoning."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
