Final batch of eagles take to the skies

THE last five of the 15 white-tailed eagles being released in the south-west this year were set free yesterday from specially constructed cages in Killarney National Park.

On August 16, 10 were let go from the cages and early indications are that they are doing well in the wild.

Several sightings have been reported in the past fortnight, with boatmen operating out of Ross Castle pier claiming to regularly see them soaring over the lakes.

“The eagles, which are particularly noticeable because of their large wingspan and yellow and white tags, are being seen on a daily basis at this stage,” said project co-ordinator Dr Allan Mee yesterday.

Food is being left out for the birds and they are returning to the release area for it, but Dr Mee hopes it will not be long before they start finding food for themselves.

They should also be ready, quite soon, to leave the precincts of the national park and head for coastal areas.

Dr Mee asked people who see the birds in areas away from Killarney to contact him on 087-3117608.

Transmitters are attached to each bird and they are being monitored on an ongoing basis.

The four-month-old birds are almost fully grown and look spectacular in the air.

Eagles became extinct in the south-west about 100 years ago and the novel project to reintroduce them, spearheaded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, will take several years to complete.

It is planned to introduce at least 75 eagles over a five-year period and the hope is that they will find habitat in which they can breed along the coastlines of Kerry and west Cork.

The eagles have already been successfully reintroduced the Isle of Mull, in Scotland, and the Scottish experience is informing the Killarney National Park project.