Latest news with #Caimin
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
White-tailed eagle in Kerry poisoned with banned substance, confirms NPWS
A white-tailed sea eagle in Glencar, Co Kerry, has been poisoned with a banned substance, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed. Toxicology tests confirmed the young female was poisoned with Carbofuran, an insecticide which has been banned in Ireland since 2007. 'It is not known how the eagle ingested this substance at this time,' the NPWS said. An investigation has begun, and the public's assistance is being sought. A second eagle is suspected to have been poisoned in Co Clare, but the substance has yet to be confirmed. That case involves one of Ireland's oldest breeding white-tailed eagles, Caimin, who held territory in Lough Derg. He was one of the first chicks to be released from Killarney National Park in 2008, as part of the White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme to bring back the formerly extinct species to Irish skies. The NPWS is appealing to the public for information on the Glencar poisoning. The scenic valley alongside Carrauntoohil in Macgillycuddy's Reeks is mainly a sheep farming area and is popular with walkers and climbers. The young female eagle was brought in as a chick from Norway in 2024 by the reintroduction programme and was released in Killarney National Park the same year. Since 2020, all eagles released as part of this programme are monitored via satellite tags. Concerns were raised in early April, as the eagle's satellite tag showed she had remained stationary for several days. NPWS staff went to the location of the satellite tag and located the partially decomposed carcass of the eagle in a woodland. Minister of state for nature and biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan said it was "a tragic loss", but added "the NPWS and his department would continue to protect and to introduce the birds which were once native to the Irish skies". 'We will continue with our efforts to introduce, nurture and protect these birds as part of the reintroduction programme, which has been making significant progress in restoring this lost flagship species to Irish skies.' The reintroduction programme has so far released nearly 200 young eagles, which have been supplied by the Norwegian government. The eagles are delivered to Kerry Airport and the young chicks are taken to sites in Killarney National Park and the Shannon estuary in North Kerry, where they are fed and released into the skies. Currently, there are 13 to 16 breeding pairs, with 64 chicks fledged by the end of 2024. Persecution by humans is the biggest threat to the reintroduction programme in Ireland, the NPWS said. Poisonings account for nearly half of eagle deaths, where the cause of death is able to be determined. At least one eagle has been shot and a number of eagles have succumbed to avian flu, as well as other conditions. The NPWS said it 'deplores the deliberate killing of rare and endangered species, and takes bird of prey persecutions extremely seriously'. In its appeal to the public, the NPWS is calling for anyone who may have information in relation to the incident, or any other suspected poisoning or other unlawful killing of birds to come forward. Any information in respect of this or any suspected breaches of the Wildlife legislation should be reported to the NPWS head office or local offices or via email to wildlifeenforcement@ Wildlife crime incidents can also be reported to An Garda Síochána. The public is strongly advised not to handle the dead birds in the interests of their own health and safety. Read More Wildlife crime is a real crime and a serious problem
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Suspected poisoning of white-tailed eagle prompts call for public vigilance
One of Ireland's oldest breeding white-tailed eagles, Caimin (Y), was recently found dead from suspected poisoning in Clare. He was one of the first chicks to be released from Killarney National Park in 2008, as part of a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) re-introduction programme to bring back this formerly extinct species to Irish skies. Caimin held territory at the Mountshannon nest site on Lough Derg for the past 17 years, during which he mated and fledged a number of chicks. All of the white-tailed eagle chicks re-introduced under the programme are fitted with satellite tags, which enable them to be monitored and tracked. In 2013, Camin mated with Saoirse, a female eagle who was also part of the re-introduction programme. They became the first white-tailed eagles to successfully raise and fledge chicks in the wild in Ireland in over 100 years. Some 10,000 people visited Mountshannon to see the eagles and their chicks that year. Saoirse sadly died of avian influenza three years later. Caimin later mated with Bernardine (B) in 2023 to successfully fledge more chicks to the wild. Despite the recent loss of her mate, Bernardine is continuing to raise a chick on the nest site in Mountshannon. Minister of state for nature, heritage and biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, has called for public co-operation in the investigation of the possible poisoning of Caimin. He said any loss in the wild not due to natural causes is usually the result of human activity. The tragic loss of a wonderfully aged bird, breeding happily in the Irish wild, is deeply regrettable. He said the re-introduction programme had been making significant progress in restoring this lost flagship species to Irish skies. He said: These birds are part of Ireland's natural heritage and are important for our biodiversity, as they are a good indicator species regarding the health of our ecosystems. 'We will continue with our efforts to introduce, nurture and protect these birds, and I have tasked the NPWS with leaving no stone unturned to try to get to the bottom of this heinous potential crime,' he said. Eamonn Meskell, Divisional Manager, NPWS, said the knowing destruction of this wonderful bird of prey displays a wanton disregard for the re-introduction and nature protection efforts. These noble birds are beloved of the public and each loss is keenly felt by them and indeed by the NPWS staff. 'They have nurtured these birds from chicks to fledglings, onto adult life and into successfully breeding pairs,' he said. Mr Meskill said the main threat to the species in Ireland is persecution, predominantly through shooting, the illegal use of poison and wind turbine strikes. The misuse/illegal use of poisons accounts for nearly 50% of eagle deaths where the cause of mortality was able to be determined. Avian influenza and adverse weather also negatively impacted the breeding population, he said. He urged any member of the public with information that would help the investigation into Caimin's death to notify the Gardai or the National Parks and Wildlife Service. White-tailed eagles White-tailed eagles were formerly bred across Ireland but are now rare and listed as species of Conservation Concern. The wings have fingered tips and, as their name suggests, they have a short white tail which has a distinctive wedge shape. The head and neck are pale, almost white in mature birds, although juveniles are dark brown, and do not attain full adult plumage until four to five years of age. They have a hooked yellow beak, piercing golden eyes, and their legs and talons are yellow. White-tailed eagles largely eat fish, but also take various birds, rabbits and hares. Carrion is an important part of their diet, especially during the winter months. They lay one to three eggs in late March to early April, which are then incubated for 38-40 days by both parents. For the first two to three weeks after hatching the female mainly broods the chicks and the male does much of the hunting. The female will also take turns to hunt. Chicks fledge after 10-12 weeks and remain reliant on their parents for a further five to six weeks. The Irish White-tailed Eagle Re-introduction Programme is a long-term initiative to re-establish a population of this extinct species in Ireland being carried out by the NPWS. Under the programme, 200 white-tailed eagles have been brought to Ireland from Norway and released over two phases of the project. Read More Wildlife crime is a real crime and a serious problem
Agriland
30-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Investigation following suspected poisoning of eagle in Clare
An investigation is underway following the discovery of one of Ireland's oldest breeding white-tailed eagles, Caimin who was found dead in Clare last Saturday (May 24). Initial post-mortem examination results from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory indicate a possible death from poisoning. Caimin held territory at the Mountshannon nest site on Lough Derg for the past 17 years. During that time, he mated and fledged a number of chicks. He was one of the first chicks to arrive as part of a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Reintroduction Programme to bring back this formerly extinct species to Irish skies and was released from Killarney National Park in 2008. All of the white-tailed eagle chicks reintroduced under the programme are fitted with satellite tags, which enables them to be monitored and tracked. White-tailed eagle In 2013, Caimin mated with Saoirshe, a female eagle who was also part of the Reintroduction Programme. They became the first white-tailed eagles to successfully raise and fledge chicks in the wild in Ireland in over 100 years. Caimin raised and fledged chicks into the wild until 2016, when Saoirshe died of avian influenza (bird flu). He held the territory and mated again with Bernardine in 2023 to successfully fledge more chicks to the wild from the same nest site in Mountshannon. Despite the loss of her mate, Bernardine is continuing to raise a chick on the nest site in Mountshannon. Minister of State for nature, heritage and biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan said: 'Any loss in the wild not due to natural causes, is usually the result of human activity and this tragic loss of a wonderfully aged bird, breeding happily in the Irish wild, is deeply regrettable. 'The Reintroduction Programme had been making significant progress in restoring this lost flagship species to Irish skies. These birds are part of Ireland's natural heritage and are important for our biodiversity, as they are a good indicator species regarding the health of our ecosystems. 'We will continue with our efforts to introduce, nurture and protect these birds and I have tasked the NPWS with leaving no stone unturned to try to get to the bottom of this heinous potential crime.' Divisional manager, NPWS, Eamonn Meskell said: 'The knowing destruction of this wonderful bird of prey displays a wanton disregard for our re-introduction and nature protection efforts. 'These noble birds are beloved of the public and each loss is keenly felt by them and indeed by the staff of NPWS who have nurtured these birds from chicks to fledglings, onto adult life and into successfully breeding pairs. 'We know we can rely on the public's help in this investigation' According to the NPWS, the main threat to the species in Ireland is persecution, predominantly through shooting and the illegal use of poison and wind turbine strikes. The misuse/illegal use of poisons accounts for nearly 50% of eagle deaths where the cause of mortality was able to be determined, according to the agency. Other causes of death include wind turbine strikes, lead shot poisoning and shooting. Avian Influenza and adverse weather also negatively impacted the breeding population. Anyone with information which maybe useful to the investigation is urge to notify a local garda station or the local NPWS office.
