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THE NATIONAL PARKS and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has announced that it is ready to move forward with the reintroduction of ospreys to Ireland this summer.
Ospreys are a fish-eating bird of prey that became extinct in Ireland 150 years ago.
The NPWS has researched and prepared for the potential reintroduction of these birds for a number of years and expects the arrival of the first 12 osprey chicks in July.
Several place names around Ireland, particularly in Munster, reference the bird.
Killarney National Park is home to a site known as Osprey Rock at Loch Léinn pointing to the bird’s history in Ireland, particularly close to rivers and lakes as it hunts for fish.
The reintroduction programme aims to establish a viable, free ranging osprey population that eventually breeds in Ireland.
Commenting on the preparations for the chicks’ arrival, Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan said:
“The NPWS plans to bring 50-70 osprey chicks to Ireland from Norway over a five-year period. NPWS has drawn on international expertise and learning from around Europe and North America in the development of this programme.”
“In particular, the project has the direct involvement of colleagues from Norway and the UK, who are not only top osprey experts, but who have led and supported other key species-reintroduction programmes in Europe.”
“The NPWS has great expertise from its introduction of the white-tailed eagle and the same, highly experienced team will now put their knowledge to good use as we embark on the reintroduction of the osprey.”
White-tailed eagles were reintroduced to Ireland in 2007 with assistance from Norway, and there are now 12 breeding pairs here.
As part of a programme of events celebrating National Biodiversity Week, Minister Noonan visited some of the nesting platforms currently in place for migratory osprey who sometimes visit Ireland.
New nesting platforms are being erected in Ireland’s southeast, on a key migratory route for osprey between Northern Europe and Africa.
They will be in place and ready for the arrival of the chicks this summer.
NPWS Divisional Manager for the South West Division, Dr Philip Buckley, said:
“We are extremely grateful to the authorities and colleagues in Norway for supplying the young ospreys, and for their expertise which is enabling this landmark conservation programme to happen.”
“Likewise to the farmers and landowners involved and also to many others from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain, elsewhere in Europe and indeed internationally who are providing expertise or helping with this work; their help is critical and much appreciated.”
The female osprey typically lays two or three eggs at 1-3 day intervals in the second half of April and incubates them for 37 days per egg.
The most important habitat requirement for ospreys is the presence of large watercourses such as rivers, lakes or coastal areas. This ensures an ample supply of medium sized fish near the water surface for them to eat.
If These parasitic agencies had their contribution to the global financial crisis rated it would be a triple A +.it is extraordinary that these dregs of morality ,along with the likes of Goldman Sachs can still hold sway in the the financial system and I say this as a firm believer in capitalism ! Great article Btw
Set up a Eurozone based Rating Agency.
Well Fitch are run by a french company
Joint headquartered in New York and London.
S&p had Lehmans at AAA up into the week that they actually went bust and left millions of creditors high and dry!!!!!
True. And why are we still hearing about their pronouncements on the news? Laziness from journalists, governments and bankers? If they were any good they’d be called “Excellent & Loaded” anyway
Only because the credit agencies base their ratings on factual information rather than government propaganda and governments can’t stand anyone who isn’t playing ball.
I assume you are looking for a reaction with that moronic comment , well you suceeded, troll!
No, the US was downgraded by S&P based on sound monetary data, whereas your comments are based on your ignorance.
Yes, they “eventually” started doing their Job, after playing their part in wrecking the world’s economy. Where was their “Data” when they gave triple A ratings to Billions of Dollars of subprime mortgages wrapped other good loans in the US. Of course this was insured by AIG in the form CDS’ that brought the biggest insurer on the planet to its knees, 85 billion to bail out Bear sterns ,200 Billion to bail out Fannie Mae /Freddie Mac , all because of subprime. Yes the banks were reckless but I wonder what their rating had been??? mmm. I suppose you heard there excuse in the congressional hearings, well of course you didn’t, anyway, it was that “we only give advice/guidance, it’s really up the institution what they do with it.
This is a country where there is now nearly a million people living in tents. And the behaviour off the Rating agencies, Financial was morally repugnant. Then we have monkey talk from the likes of you !
No McManus, you are displaying +your+ ignorance.
In contrast to member countries of the Eurozone, the US remains the sovereign issuer of its own (free floating) currency and because of this fact can never go bankrupt or default on debt denominated in US$.
When S&P downgraded US gov debt, thru’ some combination of political ideology & stupidity, the market interest rate did precisely nothing – +nada+. Indeed, given the even low rate of inflation the US gov can sell every $ of its debt, still, at an even lower rate of interest. Yes, buyers of US gov debt are actually +paying+ to hold it when inflation is taken into account.
Whilst the variously fraudulent, corrupt & ideologically motivated behaviour of the ratings agencies is a key (& unaddressed) part of the cause of the financial meltdown, it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Besides the control fraud (cf former US regulator William K Black) of the financial institutions, both in the US and Europe, we should also be demanding examination of the endemically flawed macro economics thinking that still ignores the effect of debt – indeed the function of banking itself – in its modelling of national economies. Ever wondered why the mainstream of economics had no clue the crisis was coming mere weeks before the crash? Or why the Eurozone is getting worse not better 5 years later?
Irish economists & commentators (with the exception of Dublin based writer Philip Pilkington) continue to be absolutely lamentable on these vital issues. Of course, with secure 6 figure salaries & guaranteed fat pensions, +they+ are not suffering are they?
If you want to find the facts of the intellectual bankruptcy endemic in mainstream macro economics (macro, because national economics is profoundly not like your household or business, despite all the BS from media etc. implying it is) you need to look outside Ireland. Readily available practical solutions are also discussed. (Yes, there are solutions that do not involve massive unemployment for decades & beyond.)
See Prof Bill Mitchell here:
http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/
Good articles here:
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/
And Prof Steve Keen here;
http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/
It takes a little time and study to discover the truth in macro economics. But surely we owe it to our children to find out, if not for ourselves. We will not be gifted the solutions that are readily available. The present system is a lie from start to finish, that serves to enrich the top few percent, at the expense of the rest of us, thru’ the creation of both booms & busts.
A good article by Hugh O’Connell here, but there is so much more needs fundamental examination & reform including the Euro structure itself.
S&P are number crunchers that’s all, they do what they do for their clients. Governments oversee financial regulation and dictate financial policy, so stop shooting the messenger! It’s beginning to sound like late Weimar Germany around here with the level of wingnut economic theory being flung about. Corruption and cronyism in politics, get-rich-quick economic policy, war mongering abroad, all must be paid for at the end and the chickens have come home to roost for America.
I know something about the “Pillars of Society’ that you don’t. Further details by searching in Google for ‘ Devrajan Hanna Butler Foley’
Cheers
The Common Informer
People need to understand that Ratings Agencies use historical data (good or bad) so they are after-the-fact telling us what is wrong. They cannot predict. The reason they are still viewed as important is that the prospectuses of funds tends to state that the funds cannot invest in shares/stocks etc less than X or Y rating which is purely a marketing exercise. They serve no real purpose other than marketing/political purposes and anyone who uses them as a benchmark is crazy/delusional.
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