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Up to 50 birds of prey will be released into the wild this
year, but conservation projects remain under threat amid poisoning
fears.
The European Commission is examining an official complaint
lodged over Ireland's handling of the fatal poisoning of rare
species.
Five white-tailed sea eagles, a golden eagle and two red
kites have been found poisoned since the ambitious project
to reintroduce the once-common birds was launched.
"This is danger time now, it is coming up to lambing time
- from February right up to May," Dr Allan Mee, the scientist
in charge of the white-tailed eagle release project, warned.
Springtime has proved a perilous period - with three birds
found dead last year, according to Lorcan O'Toole of the Golden
Eagle Trust, the charity managing the projects with the National
Parks and Wildlife Service.
The Government has failed to fulfil promises to strengthen
legislation which would tackle the laying out of poisoned
meat bait, the charity said. "Reluctantly, we feel obliged
to protect the public funding in these national restoration
projects by making this formal European complaint," Mr O'Toole
said.
The conservationists say a few simple changes, such as farmers
using non-meat baits to target crows and foxes, could help
alleviate the accidental poisonings.
Mr O'Toole said a petition signed by more than 11,000 people
showed the vast majority of those in rural and farming sectors
were "fed up with the lazy and reckless use of indiscriminate
poison".
Since 2001, 55 young white-tailed eagles have been released
in Killarney National Park, Co Kerry, 53 golden eagles were
set free in Co Donegal and a further 83 red kites were released
in Co Wicklow.
Last year, no golden eagle fledglings were released in Co
Donegal, as the Scottish National Heritage - which provides
the birds - had concerns over the poisoning.
However, it is hoped that up to 20 white-tailed eagles will
be brought in from Norway this year, while up to 25 red kites
from Wales and as many as eight golden eagles from Scotland,
will be released in Ireland
"The continued release of birds in Ireland was contingent
on the banning of poisons - we promised the Scottish and the
Norwegians that it was imminent. But it hasn't happened yet,"
Dr Mee said.
The trust has confirmed it is on target to re-establish the
three species in the country. Prior to the project, white-tailed
eagles were last recorded off the coasts of Co Kerry and Co
Mayo in 1898 - while golden eagles became extinct in the 1950s.
In related news, nature lovers who feed stale bread to swans
have been criticised by experts. The Galway and Claddagh Swan
Rescue Group has issued a large slice of advice to wildlife
enthusiasts who feed white, stale and even mouldy bread to
the famous flock of swans close to Galway city centre
The Claddagh Group is asking visitors to give the birds fibre-rich
brown bread or cooked vegetables such as potatoes, carrots
or cabbage instead.
Mouldy bread causes Pink Flamingo Syndrome, which
causes the swans to lose their waterproofing and white bread
offers little nutrition.
Source - The Irish Independent
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