First white-tailed sea chicks in a century take wing in Co Kerry

The first white-tailed sea eagles chicks in Co Kerry in more than a century have flown their nests.

One was hatched in Killarney National Park by a pair which had failed twice previously and the other in the Beara Peninsula, near Kenmare, by a pair in its first attempt.

The Killarney chick is being fed by its parents around Lough Lein and the trio has been seen by boatmen and tourists. The chick is likely to remain there for some months before heading off to some other part of the country.

Over the last month, four chicks have fledged. Seven have now flown in the wild in Ireland since 2013.

The reintroduction project, which involved the phased release of 100 birds in Killarney National Park, has had a number of setbacks, mainly due to poisonings.

However, project director Allan Mee yesterday welcomed the latest developments as a positive sign and progress towards the goal of establishing a self-sustaining sea eagle population in Ireland.

The breeding population is spread across four counties from Glengarriff in West Cork, to Connemara, Co Galway, with Lough Derg, near Mountshannon, Co Clare, being the most successful hatching location.

Four of the seven chicks were fledged in Lough Derg, which has two breeding pairs.

Mr Mee said the population was likely to expand over time, with pairs settling close to one another. Lough Derg was particularly suitable as it was chiefly a cattle farming area, with none of the dangers associated with sheep farming and the continuing use of illegal poisons, he pointed out.

“However, it is critical to address continuing losses of birds, including three in 2015, through human-related mortality,” he said.

The eagles are tracked through satellite-tagging and he thanked all the people, including farmers and fishermen, involved in monitoring work.

Mr Mee said eagles and farming could coexist in a benign way.

“Areas like Glengarriff, Mountshannon and Killarney are also seeing benefits in tourism and a viewing-cum-information point is open at the pier, in Mountshannon, every day.”