Release of white tailed sea eagle chicks in significant biodiversity initiative to restore a native and once extinct bird to Irish skies
- Published on: 9 August 2022
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Taoiseach was in Tarbert, Co Kerry, on Friday 5 August, along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), to release a number of White Tailed Eagles into the wild. This is part of a long-term initiative to re-establish a population of this iconic, and once extinct, species in Ireland.
This was followed by a further release today, Tuesday 9 August, in Killarney National Park, by the Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, accompanied by the Norwegian Ambassador, Mari Skåre. Also in attendance were a group of visiting Norwegians who were responsible for the collection of the eagle nestlings in Norway earlier this year.
The re-establishment of breeding White-tailed Eagles at sites like Killarney, Glengarriff and Lough Derg has proven hugely popular with local residents and visitors. The potential for positive economic benefits from ecotourism was demonstrated in Mountshannon, Co. Clare, when the first breeding pair nested within sight of the village in 2012, attracting thousands of visitors over the following years. One of the first pairs of White-tailed Eagles to breed in Ireland was in Killarney National Park in 2013 and the pair have remained in the park since, once again fledging a chick this year. Their nest is in a tree on an inaccessible cliff, but visitors may be lucky and catch a glimpse of the eagles soaring over the mountains or catching fish in one of the park’s many lakes.
As he released the birds in Killarney National Park today, the Minister commented:
“This is an incredibly exciting and technically complex project whose success depends on the collaboration of many groups, including our NPWS teams, local farmers, conservationists and communities, the Norwegian Authorities and many other partners in Norway. Their collective efforts over many years have brought us to this point. I’d like to pay tribute to all involved and acknowledge their commitment to making this project a success, now and in the years to come.
"I warmly welcome the Norwegian Ambassador, Mari Skåre, and her colleagues here today. You have been wonderful partners in this project. Indeed, without you, this would not be happening."
He continued:
“White-tailed eagles are magnificent birds and, as top predators, they also play a key role in the functioning of ecosystems. Having been driven to extinction in the 19th Century as a result of human actions, this reintroduction project is delivering real impact for the species. I was privileged to release these stunning creatures last year in Kerry and I am honoured to be here again today to observe this once-extinct species in its natural habitat.”
These white-tailed Eagle chicks arrived in Kerry Airport on Friday 1 July this year, as part of a long-term wildlife reintroduction project. The 2022 phase of this landmark collaboration, to restore a native bird to Irish skies, sees the release of sixteen young eagles at three sites across Munster, including Killarney National Park, Lough Derg and the lower Shannon estuary. The four eagle chicks brought to Killarney National Park have been held in special aviaries in a remote part of the park where they have been carefully looked after by National Parks and Wildlife Service staff.
Speaking at the release of the eagles today, the Norwegian ambassador, Mari Skåre, said:
“It has been wonderful to watch the release of the magnificent White Tail Eagles collected in Norway. The friendship between the people of Norway and the people of Ireland runs deep. The eagles we see fly free and strong in their natural habitat here today are spreading their wings as a result of the voluntary work of so many.
"Biodiversity is essential for all life on Earth. Yet we are seeing an extremely rapid loss of species world-wide. Through joint efforts we can halt this decline.”
As in previous years, the young eagles were collected under licence in Norway by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and co-workers. All the birds were fitted with satellite tags in Ireland to enable their progress to be followed and their integration into the existing Irish breeding population monitored.
As they mature, these chicks will join and strengthen the small Irish breeding population that has become established since the reintroduction programme began in 2007. 31 young eagles from Norway have been released over the last two years. The additional 16 birds being released this year, will bring the total to 47.
Already, the satellite data shows that two birds released in 2020 have paired up with older birds and have established territories in Ireland. The tracks from the satellite tags, show the young birds travelling the length and breadth of Ireland and even further afield: two of the young birds released in 2021 are currently in Scotland.
Previously, in the first-phase reintroduction programme (2007-2011), 100 young White-tailed Eagles were released in Killarney National Park. Birds from these releases dispersed throughout Ireland with the first breeding occurring in 2012 on Lough Derg, Co. Clare. Since then a small breeding population of 8-10 pairs has established and has successfully fledged over 40 chicks, including seven chicks that fledged from the wild in 2022.
The first Irish-bred female to breed in over 100 years has been the most productive eagle in Ireland in modern times with seven fledging chicks in the past three years and this year saw the first Irish-bred male successfully breed. He and his mate fledged a chick at a nest in Glengarriff, Co Cork.
Despite these breeding successes, a scientific review of the reintroduction project indicated the small population is still vulnerable to mortality factors such as illegal poisoning. The breeding population was also negatively impacted by Avian Influenza in 2018 and 2021, Storm Hannah in 2019, and indeed, adverse weather in other years during the nesting period. Thus, this supplementary release is required to bolster the existing population and ensure its viability.