Spirits soar as golden eagles fly the nest
Friday July 31 2009
Conservationists are jubilant after two golden eagle chicks that hatched in April left their eyrie in Co Donegal.
The successful breeding of the two chicks has renewed hopes that the species can again flourish in Ireland.
Initially there were fears that the younger of the two male birds would not survive, but a unique fostering operation ensured it lived and thrived.
The weaker chick was removed from the nest at four days of age and fostered by captive Harris hawks before being returned to the original nest and reared alongside the older chick in Glenveagh National Park by its eagle parents.
Golden Eagle Trust project manager Lorcan O'Toole said: "Both chicks are still in the vicinity of the nest and are likely to be mentored and provided with food by both adults until sometime in October".
It was extremely likely that the weakest second chick would have died at an early stage if the temporary intervention was not initiated, he said.
He added that this was only the second successful breeding attempt by golden eagles since the start of a project in 2001 to reintroduce them to Ireland.
The same pair of adults reared a single chick in 2007.
The adult eagles quickly accepted the returning chick after three weeks of fostering by captive Harris hawks at Pedro Soltani's falconry centre in Glenties.
When the youngster was returned to its own nest, its delighted mother tenderly preened it for 40 minutes.
But feeding complications set in and the chick was taken away for veterinary checks and medication before again being returned to its parents.
Mr O'Toole said: "To have two chicks fledge renews our belief that we can see eagles take root in Ireland again."
The project to reintroduce golden eagles into Donegal after more than 100 years involved the importation from Scotland, and release, of 53 birds in the Glenveagh area.
- Paddy Clancy
