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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government,
John Gormley TD has announced the roll-out of the second phase
in the reintroduction of the Red Kite in Ireland.
The effort to restore the Red Kite to Ireland has been doubled
this year. This week, Red Kites will simultaneously be released
at locations in Co. Down and Co. Wicklow. The Golden Eagle
Trust and project partners - the Welsh Kite Trust - collected
a total of fifty-three Red Kites in Wales to Ireland for reintroduction.
Twenty-seven of these birds were brought to Co. Down where
the RSPB are managing the reintroduction. The other twenty-six
birds will be released by the Golden Eagle Trust in Wicklow,
bringing the total released in Wicklow to fifty-six.
"It's just over a year ago since I had the pleasure
of attending the release of the first batch of these magnificent
birds (Click
Here) and I understand that the first year of the
Wicklow Red Kite project has proven very successful, with
a minimum of twenty-six kites surviving the winter" -
said Minister Gormley.
A number of the Red Kites have now formed pairs and set up
territories at locations in Wicklow. All looks very positive
for a breeding attempt in 2009. Tracking of the newly-released
kites has been made a little easier this year by the fitting
of satellite packs to two of the birds. These tiny solar powered
packs are fitted to the birds' backs and allow the project
team to check the exact location of the birds via the
internet. Updates on the project can be seen on the Golden
Eagle Trust website - Click
Here
The Golden Eagle Trust would like to acknowledge the support
of the farming community, gun clubs and shooting estates in
the release area. "Unfortunately, these wonderful birds
became extinct in Ireland more than 200 years ago because
of loss of habitat, hunting and persecution" - added
Minister Gormley.
"Since last year, they can be seen again in the skies
above County Wicklow. This project to reintroduce the red
kite shows what we can achieve here in Ireland in terms of
protecting and enhancing our natural heritage."
The Wicklow Red Kite Project is a partnership between the
Golden Eagle Trust, the National Parks and Wildlife Service,
DoEHLG and the Welsh Kite Trust. It is funded by grants from
the Minister's Department, the Heritage Council and is also
supported by Coillte, KPMG and Greenstar.
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