Over two decades after golden eagles were reintroduced to Donegal, experts say their breeding success is ‘poor’.
In the early 2000s, the iconic birds of prey soared once again over the hills of the county for the first time in nearly a century. Their return was celebrated as a landmark in Irish conservation, a hopeful sign that one of the island’s most iconic predators was back.
However, two decades on, experts say the reality is ‘sobering’. Fiona McAuliffe, of Scotland’s Rural College, and Neil Reid, Queen’s University Belfast, were speaking to RTÉ News on the issue.
The population, they say, remains small with just five territorial pairs and an estimated total population of just 20 to 25 birds.
“Breeding success is poor, and the golden eagle’s future in Ireland is uncertain,” they said.
Their research published in the Irish Naturalists’ Journal suggests the problem isn’t with the eagles themselves – it’s with the landscape they were released into.
“On paper, Donegal’s uplands looked ideal: open terrain, low human disturbance and ample wild prey,” they added.
“But over time, key parts of that ecosystem have quietly unravelled.”
Golden eagles rely on a steady supply of prey to thrive and raise chicks – notably red grouse and Irish hares.
“Yet, during our recent surveys along transects (predetermined lines through an area) and footage from camera traps in and around Glenveagh national park, the uplands seemed eerily quiet. Not just quiet of eagles, but of the smaller animals they prey on for food. The landscape looked wild, but had lost some of its vital living components.”
Read their full report on the future of Donegal’s golden eagle population on www.rte.ie
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