Making a return to old habitats
THE poisoning of eagles is a problem not confined to this country: the use of illegal poisons is one of the main reasons behind a decline in protected golden eagles in Scotland.
Scotland has a much bigger population of golden eagles than we have and is also the source of eaglets for a programme to reintroduce the magnificent bird of prey to Glenveagh National Park, in Co Donegal.
But concerns are growing following a report which shows golden eagles are dwindling in Scotland. According to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), only three out of 16 regions studied had stable, or expanding, populations. Worryingly, drops in numbers were found in areas with habitats suited to the bird.
Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell said it provided further proof that poisoned baits continued to blight Scotland. This follows a pattern already seen in Kerry where four sea eagles, which were among 15 introduced to Killarney National Park almost a year ago, have died from illegal poisoning.
Dr Allan Mee, manager of the Kerry project, has appealed to farmers not to use meat baits, pointing out that as the eagles feed largely on animal carcasses (carrion), they are highly likely to eat (poisoned) meat.
In two of the Kerry cases, a sheep carcass was found close to the dead eagles which, post mortems found, had consumed poisons normally used to kill crows and foxes.
Based on the numbers of young golden eagles produced by the remaining pairs in what ought to be productive areas in Scotland, the SNH said populations should be expanding markedly. However, their numbers are falling and they are failing to produce youngsters that could settle in other parts of Scotland.
Minister Russell, pledging a crackdown on poisoning, described the results of the report as deeply disturbing. “This is a timely report, with tackling crimes against our wildlife firmly on my, and Scotland’s, agenda. In addition, the report gives scientific proof that the illegal use of poisoned baits continues to blight our country.”
Prof Colin Galbraith, SNH’s director of policy and advice, said poisoning was a real threat to carrion feeders such as the golden eagle and other raptors, including the red kite.
There is hope, however, and news last year that a golden eagle chick had hatched in Donegal, for the first time in around 100 years, was welcomed excitedly. After seven long years of effort by the Golden Eagle Reintroduction Steering Group, the event offered the first visible proof that golden eagles could be re-established as a breeding species in Ireland.
The project began in 2000, following several years of planning by the Golden Eagle Trust Limited, which, in turn, incorporated earlier efforts by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Glenveagh National Park, Co Donegal.
Project manager Lorcan O’Toole was quick to caution that a single successful breeding attempt did not secure the favourable conservation of the species in Ireland.
“But,” he added, “it does suggest that with appropriate landscape management and species protection, the golden eagles can reoccupy a percentage of their former haunts along the west coast of Ireland and possibly along the northern coast of Northern Ireland.” The hope is that a pair of golden eagles will breed in Glenveagh for the next two decades and be augmented by other breeding pairs in Donegal and beyond.
“If the Project Steering Group can maintain its focus and determination to succeed, hopefully we may in time look back on 2007 as a turning point in the status of Irish birds of prey in general,” Mr O’Toole suggested.
The project involves bringing young eaglets from Scotland and releasing them in Glenveagh, annually. Fifty birds have been released between 2001 and 2007 and it is planned to free a total of 60 to 75 birds.
However, as in many wild eagle populations, only a third of the released birds are expected to survive until they are mature enough to breed at four, or five, years of age. It is hoped that six to eight pairs will become established in Donegal by 2010.
The golden eagle donor stock is collected annually from Scotland under a special licence from SNH. Only one chick can be taken from nests containing two young. Every year, scores of bird of prey enthusiasts help monitor potential donor stock nests.
Meanwhile, a further 20 white-tailed sea eagles are to be released in Killarney National Park, next month. Some of the eagles already released in Killarney have flown as far as Derry and Down, but, thus far, there have been no sightings of them in Donegal where they might meet their cousins, the golden eagles.
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