During the Mesolithic period in Ireland, which occurred between 8,000 BC and 4,000 BC, hunter-gatherers here believed that everything was imbued with spirit. Humans can obtain certain characteristics by eating certain plants and animals. This seems to be the only reasonable explanation for why our Mesolithic ancestors ate birds of prey.
Hunting owls, eagles, peregrine falcons, and osprey would have been difficult. The calories gained from eating meat would easily be outweighed by the effort of catching such a predator. And no matter how you look at it, it tastes awful. But people believed that by eating falcons, owls, and eagles, they could acquire the spiritual properties of those animals: the speed of a falcon, the night vision of an owl, or the strength and agility of an owl. I guess it was. Eagle.
Our perception of the natural world continually changes. Much of the veneration from pagan times continued into the Middle Ages. But then, as different values took hold, people began to perceive themselves as separate from nature and increasingly tamed the environment, unaware of the role that many species play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Now I’m trying to control it.
The osprey chicks have been released in recent days as NPWS embarks on a reintroduction plan over the next five years. Click here for details: https://t.co/6BjfUPjTRg pic.twitter.com/rLc3qoF7I9
— Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (@DeptHousingIRL) August 28, 2023
In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, birds of prey were seen as the last vestiges of the “wild” and something to be eradicated from the landscape. Eagles were considered a threat to game birds such as pheasants introduced from Asia in the 16th century. Landlords in Scotland and England removed people from the hills to make way for their latest commercial venture: sheep. Eagles and ospreys were considered a danger to highland lambs. Therefore, many of the large raptors that live here were hunted to extinction.
This perception, and the persecution that stems from that belief, continues today. In recent years, rare hedgehogs have been shot dead in County Kerry and poisoned in County Meath. A white-tailed eagle was shot in Tipperary. A peregrine falcon was poisoned in Dublin. There were also numerous red kite poisonings in Wicklow and Wexford. Between 2007 and 2019, a whopping 300 birds of prey were found to have been poisoned or died in unnatural circumstances in Ireland. According to the Raptor Protocol, 214 of the recorded incidents involved poisoning and 58 involved shootings. One of the poisons used is carbofuran, which has been illegal here since 2007. Possession and use of carbofuran is a serious crime, as is the placement of poison bait, but such wildlife crimes are often not taken seriously by authorities. As guaranteed. As our perceptions evolve and the majority of people across Ireland once again appreciate the presence of eagles, owls, harriers and falcons, more effective investigation and enforcement of these evil crimes is possible. is now required.
Meanwhile, raptor conservation and reintroduction projects are successful, highly popular, and widely supported by the public. Hedgehogs have suffered a dramatic decline in recent decades as plantation forestry has drastically reduced their mountain habitat. They are currently the subject of several conservation plans to maintain their vulnerable populations. The golden eagle, persecuted to extinction in Ireland more than 100 years ago, has been successfully reintroduced to Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal. White-tailed eagles were reintroduced to Killarney National Park between 2007 and 2011 and have since started breeding in counties Cork, Kerry, Galway and Tipperary. For the most part, people are thrilled that these magnificent eagles have returned to their rightful place in Ireland’s ecosystem. Benefits include promoting tourism where eagles can be seen. This includes the positive economic benefits to the town of Mount Shannon in County Clare from having eagles near Lough Derg.
Reintroduction will require serious conservation efforts and continued active collaboration between farmers, landowners and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, ensuring that rogues do not shoot or poison bait to kill these precious creatures. It’s really tragic to do something like that.
In 2023, another raptor reintroduction began. Ospreys are native fish-eating raptors with a wingspan of up to 180 cm. The last known breeding site was near Loch Rock in County Roscommon in 1779. One breeding pair of his was recorded in Fermanagh in the summer of 2023. This is his first time here in 244 years. Just a few months later, in August 2023, his nine chicks from Norway were released by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in the South East, starting in County Waterford. The presence of both freshwater and marine habitats there promises success for these chicks. huge birds. Landowners and communities around the release site support reintroduction.
Ospreys have evolved specifically to eat fish, so they spend most of their time near lakes, bays, and ocean inlets. Their legs are longer than most raptors, allowing them to stand and dip their claws in shallow water without getting their feathers wet. They build huge nest platforms, known as iris, high up in trees where egg-stealing predators cannot access them.
In the winter, ospreys migrate south, sometimes as far as Africa, before returning home to breed in the spring. Males perform elaborate aerial displays called “sky dances” to court a partner during courtship and early incubation. Once ospreys mate, they stay together for life and remain faithful to the same nest site year after year. As such, the osprey is depicted in folklore around the world as a symbol of continuity and fidelity.
As enthusiasm for white-tailed eagles, golden eagles, ospreys and other majestic birds of prey grows across Ireland, it’s time to step up our efforts against wildlife crime.
I know I am eager to see these majestic birds of prey gracing the southeastern skies. To me, they represent a welcome recognition of loss and reconciliation, and show that our collective perception of nature is finally improving. And this may begin to truly restore balance within the ecosystems on which we depend.