Where eagles dare

THE eagles have landed in Mountshannon and they’re here to stay. However, due to concerns that the birds’ breeding may be disturbed, a proposal has been made to impose a no-fly zone around the white-tailed sea eagle nest on Lough Derg.

This week, the news broke that a pair of white-tailed sea eagles are breeding on an island off of Mountshannon, making it the first documented nesting attempt for the species in Ireland in over 100 years.
Dr Allan Mee, project manager for the Golden Eagle Trust, has said the trust is now seeking an exclusion zone of 250m around the nest to provide added protection for the birds during their breeding season.
“We have suggested and recommended it to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and it would be really up to the NPWS, who would have the legal ability to declare an exclusion zone. It is there for them to consider but it might be that things are going reasonably well and that there is no disturbance to the birds. We put it in writing to NPWS and copied it to various stakeholders, including Waterways Ireland, the Irish Aviation Authority, Clare County Council and the angling club in Mountshannon,” Dr Mee said.
He explained the group was “obviously worried” about any disturbance during the breeding period but said they have received great co-operation from the various local interest groups which they wrote to.
“The letter sets out that the birds are here and are breeding and nesting. We stated this is the nest site and this is the area where we are looking for a 250m exclusion zone. We are looking for boating activity to avoid that zone and also not to land boats. This also would apply to cruisers and speed boats, jet-skis, at a later stage in the season, as well as the seaplane,” Dr Mee stated.
It is understood eggs were laid in the nest around April 9 and chicks are due around May 18.
Based on this, it is being recommended by Dr Mee that an exclusion zone be maintained up until the end of August.
He explained that when the birds are old enough, they will leave the nest but now the adults have nested on Lough Derg, they won’t move from there during their lifetime.
Commenting on the exclusion zone, Emelyn Heaps, CEO with Harbour Flights Ireland LTD, who operate a seaplane base in Mountshannon, said they “will do everything we can to facilitate the birds and their nesting”.
“Passenger safety is of utmost priority. We are delighted to work with them. Globally, seaplanes and eagles have been proven to work in harmony with each other. Harbour Flights’ commitment is to ensure as far as possible that we will not go near the island,” Mr Heaps said.
Andrew Browne, chairperson of the Mountshannon Angling Club also welcomed the eagles and said the club is “fully supportive” of the exclusion zone.