Red Kite Reintroduction to Ireland

Red Kites are being reintroduced to Ireland. The reintroduction project will start in Co. Wicklow where thirty Kites will be released in 2007. This, once widespread, native bird of prey became extinct in Ireland in the eighteenth century, due to persecution, poisoning and woodland clearance.

The Red Kites are being sourced from Wales. After Wicklow, they will also be released in other locations in the east of Ireland. A similar project, planned for 2008, may reintroduce the birds to Northern Ireland.

Although the birds are natural scavengers, they feed extensively on earthworms, insects and small mammals such as rabbits. The Red Kite does not present any threat to livestock and may become a tourist attractions.

The Red Kite project is part of Ireland’s wider efforts to improve national Biodiversity. Ireland has the lowest range of birds of prey and owls in Europe.

The Wicklow Red Kite Project is a partnership between the Golden Eagle Trust, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Welsh Kite Trust. It is funded by grants from DEHLG and the Heritage Council.

Conserving Ireland's 50,000 red squirrels

The IUCN's Red List categorises the Eurasian Red Squirrel as Near Threatened. The species is widespread, but suffering from habitat fragmentation and competition from introduced grey squirrels. It is estimated that for every 1 red squirrel in Ireland there are 5 greys (around 50,000 reds to 250,000 greys). However, a pilot relocation project West of the River Shannon (where there is less pressure from the greys) aims to restablish healthy populations in new habitats.

In Co. Galway, 15 red squirrels have recently been trapped and relocated from Portumna National Park to Derryclare Wood in Connemara. A second translocation of squirrels to the Coillte owned Belleek Wood in Co. Mayo has been approved by the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche. It is thought that Beleek Wood could support a population of 65 red squirrels but before any are introduced the Belleek Wood Enhancement Group and Coillte are improving the wood as squirrel habitat.

The Department of the Environment's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is overseeing the work within guidelines from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

• Read the Proceedings of the Irish Red Squirrel Conservation Symposium, 2005 (PDF, 19 pages, 106KB)

Reintroducing white-tailed Sea Eagles to Kerry

One hundred years after becoming extinct in Ireland, the White-tailed Sea Eagle is set to soar again. Over a five year period starting in summer 2007, 15 chicks a year (sourced from Norway under licence) will be reintroduced to the wilds of Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry. Monitoring will take place after release. After five years it is hoped that the birds will begin to breed and spread out across the rich peninsulas, coast, windswept islands and deep bays of Kerry and West Cork.

The project takes its lead from other successful projects in Ireland and Scotland. Apart from the cultural and tourism benefits of having eagles back in Kerry, this project will help Ireland meet its commitment to maintain and enhance native wildlife under the Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biodiversity.

The project is being overseen by a specialist group coordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Golden Eagle Trust and others.

• Read the press release on the reintroduction of sea eagles to Ireland
• Read about the successful Golden Eagle reintroduction project
  

There be golden eagles in them hills

In the cradle of the Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal, at the edge of northwest Ireland, the Golden Eagle Reintroduction Project has been reintroducing these raptors to Ireland since 2001. Donegal was chosen for its suitable habitat, the locals’ love of wildlife and the rapport between the farming community and conservationists. Tourism groups also have an interest as the Eagles may attract tourists. The majority of their potential ranges here are Natura 2000 sites, protected habitats for flora and fauna of European importance. Research indicates that County Donegal could hold 7-10 pairs of Golden Eagles and Ireland may eventually have 50 – 100 pairs.

Ireland currently has 6 breeding birds of prey species, the lowest number in the European Union. Habitat loss, egg collection and persecution (shooting, hunting, poisoning) caused the extinction of White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and Goshawk since the 1700s. Golden Eagles became extinct in Ireland in 1910.

These raptors have a 2m wing span, can live for over 20 years and hunt rabbits, hares and other prey over a broad (up to 260 square km) territory. The Irish Farmers Association was consulted on and supported the introduction despite some farmers fearing that the Eagles would predate lambs. Compensation was promised should any such predation be proven.
The project is funded by by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council. Dúchas (Ireland’s authority for nature conservation) is also involved.

The reintroduction project meets 53 reintroduction guidelines laid down by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Four to five week old Eaglets are sourced from the Scottish wilds under licence. Sourcing Eaglets has recently become more difficult as recent years have been poor for Golden Eagle breeding in Scotland.

Individual released birds are tracked with radio transmitters and can be identified by a tag on each wing. 46 birds have been released, and at least 26 were known to be alive during 2005. Others may be dead or carry failed radio transmitters. Five territories are now occupied. Out of four pairs two produced clutches of eggs, but none successfully hatched – in some cases because the birds are still young and inexperienced breeders. Enough eagles will be released to ensure a sufficient number survive to form a viable breeding population. This project aims to release enough have a dozen breeding pairs at Glenveagh by 2011.

Keep an eye on the www.goldeneagle.ie website for updates. The latest update is for the spring/summer season 2006.