First Irish-born sea eagle chicks to fledge in 110 years

History has been made in Ireland this week with the successful fledging of two white-tailed eagle chicks from a nest in Mountshannon, County Clare. These chicks are the first Irish-born sea eagles to fledge in over 100 years.

Three pairs of white-tailed sea eagles attempted to breed in Ireland this year. Unfortunately, one pair failed during the incubation period and one pair failed when their nest collapsed, killing the well-developed chick ‘Paudie’ (the media star – see here).

The successful fledging of the Mountshannon chicks is a significant milestone in the six-year reintroduction project. As no further birds are being imported from Norway, it is now vital that the small Irish population begins to produce chicks, and that a good proportion of those chicks survive to go on and breed and help the population grow.

Massive congratulations to those visionaries at the Golden Eagle Trust who have steered the sea eagle reintroduction project (along with the reintroduction of golden eagles and red kites), and their project partners, The National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Golden Eagle Trust press release here.

The photograph shows Project Manager Allan Mee with one of the first reintroduced sea eagle chicks, donated by Norway in 2007.