Fifth eagle dies from suspected poisoning

AN EAGLE restoration project in Kerry has received a further setback with the death of yet another bird, believed to be from poisoning.

The results of toxicology tests on the white-tailed species, found dead outside Killarney late last week, are due within a few days.

The male bird is the fifth sea eagle to have died since the restoration project started in Killarney National Park almost two years ago.

Tests showed three of the birds were poisoned.

Project co-ordinator Dr Allan Mee said he feared the latest victim — found on the edge of Lough Lein in the Beaufort area — may have suffered the same fate.

“The bird was in perfect condition and had no marks, so it looks like a classic poisoning case,” he said yesterday.

“This was one bird we really didn’t want to lose. It had spent a lot of time around Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, and had travelled the length and breadth of the country, only to come back and die close to where it had been first released. It was our most-travelled bird.”

The eagle would have died close to where it had consumed poison, Dr Mee added.

So far, 35 eagles have been released in the park and the plan is to introduce around 80 over a five-year period. Last year, three eagles died after consuming poison that had been laid on sheep carcasses in mountainous areas, of Kerry, close to the release point.

Recently, it was confirmed a golden eagle died from poisoning in Glenveagh National Park, in Co Donegal.

Dr Mee renewed an appeal to farmers not to lay poisoned meat baits on their land, saying such baits posed a serious risk to eagles and other scavenging birds of prey, especially when poisoned carcasses remained on hillsides during daylight hours.

Some farmers in Kerry were initially opposed to the eagle project, claiming the eagles would kill young lambs. However, there have been no reports of lambs being taken by eagles.

Dr Mee said the relationship with farmers in areas where eagles had spent much of their time had improved considerably.

Environment Minister John Gormley recently announced plans for strict new regulations that would outlaw the use of poisoned meat-based bait, except in exceptional circumstances He said existing laws were not strong enough, adding a very small number of people had been acting irresponsibly and, possibly, illegally in this regard.

He said current regulations were insufficient, given the ongoing poisoning of birds of prey and it was hoped to have new regulations in place later this year.