Poison fear won't halt the release of 20 eagles
ANOTHER batch of young Norwegian eagles are to be released into the Irish landscape later this month despite fears for their safety after a spate of fatal poisonings.
Conservationists have vowed to press ahead with the ambitious projects to re-introduce the once common birds of prey.
The Norwegian ambassador has been amongst those highly critical of the 11 recent deaths -- including three white-tailed eagles in a four-week period in Co Kerry -- caused by poison-laced meat.
Dr Allan Mee, the manager of the White-tailed Sea Eagle Reintroduction Programme in Killarney National Park, said Norwegian authorities would be keeping a "close eye" on the situation but that they had granted the go-ahead to collect a further 20 white-tailed eagle fledglings to bring to Ireland.
However, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) chairman in Kerry, James McCarthy, said a review of the project should be carried out before any more eaglets are introduced.
He said a leaflet produced by the Golden Eagle Trust and endorsed by other key bodies "was not widely circulated among sheep farmers by the trust, as promised".
So far, 14 of the 55 eagles given by Norway to Ireland as part of the bid to re-establish the species in Ireland have been found dead.
Seven of the birds have been confirmed as poisoned, while tests were initiated on the remainder.
Last year, concerns over poisoning led the Scottish National Heritage to halt its supply of golden eagle fledglings for release in Co Donegal.
However, Lorcan O'Toole from the Golden Eagle Trust -- the charity working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to manage the projects -- revealed they were granted a licence to collect six Scottish golden eagle fledglings last week.
Up to 27 red kites are expected to be collected from Wales this week for release in Co Wicklow.
Mr O'Toole praised the co-operation of farmers and gun clubs in both counties Wicklow and Donegal.
Banning
"We fully realise the vast number of farmers are not poisoning," he said. "But nonetheless a small number of landowners continue to use poison which is indiscriminate."
It is deemed illegal to use carcasses laced with poison as a meat-bait but this does not apply to killing foxes. An amendment to the legislation banning the practice is expected to go to public consultation shortly.
Springtime has proved a dangerous period for the birds of prey as they can be lured into eating the poisoned carcasses left out by a small number of farmers to kill foxes during lambing season, Dr Mee explained.
"It is pretty much always an accident as it is put out for the foxes but the birds get it. But if we keep on losing birds wholesale then the project won't be viable," Dr Mee added.
- Louise Hogan
Irish Independent
