TEN YOUNG white-tailed sea eagles were released in Killarney National Park, Co Kerry, yesterday in the latest phase to reintroduce the once-native birds to the wild.
Eighty-seven birds have been released since the programme got under way in 2007.
The project has had some setbacks with up to 13 white-tailed sea eagles believed killed from poison laid by farmers over the past five years.
The use of poisoned meat bait was banned last October. However, the effect of the law “remains to be seen”, project manager Dr Allan Mee said.
It was the first spring since the law was introduced and it takes time to eliminate such a tradition among farmers, Dr Mee added.
“Poisoning is still the biggest threat to the viability of the birds,” he said.
The three-month-old eagles that have been released will be given food by organisers for the first few months.
The young birds of prey were sourced from the wild in Norway and have no parents to nurture them.
Organisers hope some of the older eagles in the project will begin to lay eggs in the next two to three years.
