Ireland's white-tailed eagles rebound after century-long extinction
After disappearing in the early 1900s, white-tailed eagles are now breeding across Ireland following a reintroduction effort that released 245 chicks since 2007.
The white-tailed eagle, once eradicated from Ireland by the early 20th century due to shooting and poisoning, has returned thanks to a long-term reintroduction scheme. Starting in 2007, the National Parks and Wildlife Service collaborated with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and the Golden Eagle Trust to release young eagles from Norway, first at Killarney National Park and later across the country. A total of 245 chicks were released by the program's conclusion in August 2025, after which the agency estimated roughly 150 eagles now live in the wild, forming 17 known breeding pairs.
Recent field observations show a pair at Lough Léin in Killarney fledged two juveniles in July 2026, marking five consecutive years of successful breeding, while Fota Wildlife Park celebrated the hatching and fledging of a chick from resident parents Áine and Tony. Conservationists continue to monitor the population with satellite tags and work with farmers to mitigate conflicts, but illegal poisoning, shooting, avian influenza and turbine strikes remain serious risks.
Why it matters
The comeback shows how targeted conservation can restore a lost species, highlighting both ecological success and ongoing threats.
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