Poisoning of birds of prey puts reintroduction project at risk

THE continued poisoning of protected birds of prey, such as eagles and red kites, is putting a serious question mark over ambitious projects to reintroduce these birds here, wildlife experts warned yesterday.

In what has been described as the worst spate of poisoning in recent years, 10 such birds, including three kites, two white-tailed eagles, a golden eagle, three buzzards and a peregrine falcon, have been confirmed poisoned this year in the Republic.

Dr Allan Mee, manager of a white-tailed eagle reintroduction programme in Co Kerry, yesterday confirmed a second eagle had been poisoned in the Beaufort area, near Killarney, inside a month.

Toxicology tests at the state laboratory, in Celbridge, Co Kildare, and the SASA Laboratory, in Edinburgh, Scotland, found both eagles had been killed by Carbofuran, a substance previously used as a pesticide but is now illegal in Ireland.

Thirteen of the 55 eagles reintroduced to Killarney National Park, since 2007, have died, seven from poisoning.

“The loss of a further two white-tailed eagles at this time is devastating,” said Dr Mee.

“The older male could have been one of the first birds to breed in the wild in Ireland in over 100 years, had it survived. That it was in such good condition at the time of its death makes its loss even more tragic.

“We know that eagles can thrive in Kerry if given the chance, but indiscriminate poisoning is literally killing our chances of re-establishing a population here,” he added.

Also this year, two red kites and a peregrine were found dead in Co Wicklow, a third kite released in the North was found dead in Co Kildare, a golden eagle, in Co Leitrim, and buzzards in west Waterford, east Cork and Donegal, one of which recovered from poisoning.

All of these were poisoned after ingesting meat baits laced with Alphachloralose.

Also, searches of land in the Beaufort area located a dead lamb, a raven, also poisoned by Carbofuran, and other livestock in various stages of decomposition.

One eagle had been feeding on the carcass of a sheep when it died, as wool was found in the crop along with meat.

An investigation is ongoing by the Department of Agriculture and gardaí in Killarney.

Dr Mee said most of the oldest birds that could be breeding in a few years were being lost, adding that even birds intent on fishing in rivers were being drawn to poison-laced carcasses on nearby land.

The young eagles released in Kerry are donated by Directorate for Nature Management, in Norway, which is critical to the success of the reintroduction project, he pointed out.

However, he said the continuing loss of eagles to poisoning “has cast a shadow” over the future of the project.

“Permits to collect up to 20 fledglings per year from Norway during 2007-2009 have been issued, given that the population in Norway is a healthy and growing population and based on reports on Ireland still being a well-suited area for the species.

“The Directorate of Nature Management is concerned to learn about the casualties caused by illegal poisoning. In Norway, there is no evidence that the white-tailed eagle predates on livestock.”