Government confirms Wicklow red kite reintroduction complete as species firmly established and spreading

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The government has confirmed that Wicklow’s long running red kite reintroduction project is now complete, with the predatory bird species firmly established across the county and continuing to expand into neighbouring areas.

The update came in response to a parliamentary question from Wicklow TD John Brady, who sought clarity on the number of birds released and whether further species programmes were planned.

Red kites were brought back to Ireland between 2007 and 2011 under a project led by the Golden Eagle Trust in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Welsh Kite Trust.

During that period, 120 young birds were released in County Wicklow, followed by a further 30 in Dublin in 2011. According to junior minister Christopher O’Sullivan, the programme has now ended and the species is thriving, with monitoring showing a stable and spreading population.

In Wicklow, where the birds have become a familiar sight over farmland and upland edges, the confirmation marks the end of an intervention that has reshaped the county’s wildlife over the past decade.

The minister also outlined progress on two other high-profile raptor projects that have begun to influence sightings in Wicklow. The second phase of the white tailed eagle reintroduction, launched in 2020, concluded last year after releasing 245 chicks into the wild.

Combined with the earlier Kerry releases, the national population is now estimated at around 150 birds. Eighteen pairs have nested so far this year, though the number of chicks fledged in 2026 is not yet known. While the core breeding sites remain elsewhere, dispersing eagles have increasingly been recorded in Wicklow, adding to the county’s growing list of large raptors.

A third programme, the reintroduction of osprey, began in 2023. More than 40 chicks have been released since then, and the species has already begun to appear along Wicklow’s rivers and coastal wetlands. Although still in its early stages, the project is expected to contribute to a wider recovery of fish‑eating birds across eastern counties.

Minister O’Sullivan stressed that all three programmes have relied heavily on the cooperation of local landowners and farmers, whose monitoring and protection of nest sites have been central to their success.

That support has been particularly visible in Wicklow, where the return of red kites has often been cited as an example of productive collaboration between conservation groups and rural communities.

Despite the progress, the minister said there are no plans to expand reintroduction efforts or add new species. NPWS is instead shifting its focus to the Natura Community for Birds Programme and a series of bird‑based European Innovation Partnerships, which aim to support habitats and breeding conditions for existing species rather than introduce new ones.

The update signals a transition from active reintroduction to long term management. The county now hosts established populations of red kites and regular visits from eagles and ospreys, marking a significant change in its ecological landscape and setting the stage for the next phase of conservation work.