Golden eagles have bred at a rewilding estate in the Scottish Highlands for the first time in 40 years.
A chick has been successfully reared at an artificial eyrie on the 10,000-acre 'Trees for Life' Dundreggan estate in Scotland. On the estate, an artificial nest was built five years ago on the remains of an old nest site to encourage eagles to mate. Are there golden eagles in Ireland?
Golden Eagles in Ireland
Previously extinct in Ireland, Golden eagles have been reintroduced to Donegal in 2001 as part of a millennium project. Golden Eagles were reared and released in Glenveagh as part of a program to re-establish the wildlife population in their former mountainous domain.
The golden eagle wingspan of 1.8 – 2.3 m or 5 ft 11 in to 7 ft 8 in) makes it the fifth-largest in the eagle family and along with a top speed of 129kmh, makes for an impressive sight in any sky. It's easy to see how this great raptor is held in high esteem across many cultures. In Norse tradition, the eagle’s cry was seen as a sign of a hero being born and a symbol of a strong mind and spirit.
A small number of eagle pairs now breed in County Donegal with the battle to restore the population ongoing. While there are challenges, we are big advocates for reintroducing these species as part of rewilding Ireland and rewilding donegal.
Irelands other native eagle species, the white-tailed eagle has been re-introduced to Kerry and Clare in the Southwest from a population in Norway, where they are most prevalent.
To learn more about eagles in Ireland see www.goldeneagle.ie for details on The Golden Eagle Trust. The Golden Eagle Trust Limited is a registered charity dedicated to the restoration and conservation of Ireland’s native birds and their habitats, in particular declining and extinct species. They are dedicated to the recovery, restoration, and conservation of threatened and regionally extinct birds in Ireland.
