The National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is delighted to confirm that a pair of Ospreys has had bred successfully in the midlands. Following a historic record of confirmed breeding by a pair of Ospreys in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland in 2023, this is now the second record of a breeding pair on the island of Ireland in modern times.
Ospreys were extinct as a breeding bird in Ireland over two hundred years ago, but have continued to visit the island as part of their migratory pattern since their re-establishment as a breeding species in Scotland. In August 2023, a breeding pair of Ospreys and their chicks was discovered at a nesting site in Northern Ireland – the first sighting of naturally established breeding Ospreys in over two hundred years.
Two years ago, the NPWS established an Osprey Reintroduction Programme which aims to establish a viable population of breeding Ospreys in Ireland in the long term. This latest confirmed breeding show encouraging signs of the quality of habitat in Ireland, and the positive impact of our biodiversity actions. Managing the return of this vulnerable species is highly dependent on respecting their need to be left undisturbed during their breeding cycle and fledging stages of their young. The NPWS has been working closely with Inland Fisheries Ireland, the landowner and local angling communities, who have all been part of this success story.
Last week, nine Osprey chicks were released into the wild in Waterford by the Minister of State for Nature and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan TD, and NPWS staff as part of the Osprey Reintroduction Programme - now in its second year. NPWS can confirm that this pair in Leitrim are not related to chicks released through the programme. They are a naturalised pair and it is possible that this is a first attempt at this location, as previous efforts remain unconfirmed.
