Breeding project for sea eagles to build on success

A project to reintroduce white-tailed sea eagles to Ireland looks like being successful, with a viable breeding population being established.

Of the 100 birds released in Killarney National Park over a five-year period, 30 have died, including 12 from confirmed poisonings, but pairs continue to form and several could hatch chicks in 2015, according to the Departments of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Four new territories have been set up this year, but any further deaths could “slow or even halt’’ the creation of a viable population, says project manager Allan Mee, in a report for 2014.