Eagles leave release area for Atlantic coast

TWO of the 15 white-tailed eagles recently released in Killarney National Park have made their way to the Atlantic coastline.

Also known as sea eagles, a key part of the eagle reintroduction project is that they will eventually settle along the coasts of Kerry and west Cork.

On September 17, the first bird left the environs of the National Park and flew to the coast at Glenbeigh, a distance of 24km. This bird returned to the release area two days later and is still there.

Another bird left the release area on September 21 and was not located again until it was seen by boat operators on the Skelligs, about 72km away, on September 26.

Project manager Allan Mee yesterday said the boatmen involved and Bob Wilson, who works as a guide on the Skelligs, were “all blown away” by the sight of the eagle and thousands of gannets in the air.

“The same day, the bird made it to the Blasket Islands off the Dingle Peninsula, just over 30km directly over water, where boatmen reported it was being chased by choughs,” he added.

Since September 28, that bird has been resident on the south side of the Slieve Mish Mountains, near Castlemaine, 24km from the release site.

“This bird was one of the later released birds [August 29], but has been a real traveller since release compared to most of the other birds being seen on the Upper Lake two days after release and regularly soaring over the Gap of Dunloe,” Dr Mee reported.

Both birds to leave the release area have been males.

Most of the birds are still in the Lough Lein area of Killarney close to where they were released and are still being fed by National Park staff. Several sightings in the Tomies and Glena side of Lough Lein have been reported by boatmen and others on the lake.

Dr Mee said he was happy with the way the birds were getting on since the first lot of releases on August 16.

“They seem to be doing very well as far as feeding is concerned,” he said.