Nine osprey chicks with satellite tags have been released back into the wild in the south-east by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Ospreys are fish eating birds of prey which are thought to have become extinct as breeding birds in Ireland over two centuries back.
A small number of birds have continued to visit Ireland as part of their migratory pattern.
Ospreys based in north western countries including Ireland tend to migrate to Africa for the winter months.
First flight for the Osprey, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD was on hand to watch the release of Osprey chicks back into the wild. The release is part of an NPWS Programme, which aims to reintroduce this formerly extinct bird of prey back to Ireland. Also pictured are Ciara Carbery, NPWS, Rachel McHugh NPWS, and Dr Philip Buckley, Divisional Manager NPWS Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan
Data gathered from satellite tagging of last year’s chicks confirmed this pattern last September.
One of the chicks left the southeast of Ireland on September 16th and arrived in Africa on September 21st – a journey of some 2,500 kilometres.
The bird, known as 63E, left Ireland and travelled over sea to Portugal, and from there onto Morocco, sometimes at a speed of 32 km per hour.
The programme, now in its second year, involves NPWS bringing 50 chicks to Ireland over a five-year period with the aim of establishing a viable breeding population here. The programme is run in collaboration with Norway.
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm performed the release this week, stating that “we understand more about the valuable role of these majestic birds of prey in our ecosystem, and can take action to bring them back to our skies”.
“Over time, I hope that this programme will return the once extinct osprey to Ireland, and generate useful insights to inform our conservation efforts,,”he said, paying tribute to landowners for taking care of the birds to prepare them for their journey to west Africa.
