Ulster Museum Collection Highlights - Objects of Desire
Juvenile Bald Eagle
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 Amber Necklace |
 Gin Glass |
 Neck Ornament |
 Irish Lady's Tresses Orchid |
 The Lennox Quilt |
 Fossil Crinoids |
 Madonna and Child |
 A Red Alga |
 Irish Wolfhound |
 Coates Family Photograph |
 Chinese Ivory Puzzle Ball |
 Early Medieval Tomb-shaped Shrine |
 The Green Coat, Sir John Lavery |
 Juvenile Bald Eagle |
Juvenile Bald Eagle, Garrison Co. Fermanagh
Donation
Accession number: Lg7116
Height: 600 mm
Eagles are now rarely seen in Ireland, but two species, the White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle, formerly bred. Both were exterminated in the early 20th century. Sadly, many of the eagles seen since have been poisoned or shot -- an illegal act as they are fully protected.
This juvenile eagle was shot near Garrison, County Fermanagh on 11 January 1973. The bird would have been born in 1972 so would have been under a year old. If it had survived its first winter it could have expected to live for between 20 and 30 years
While initially, and reasonably identified from photographs as a White-tailed Eagle, doubts about its identity were expressed after it had been acquired by the Ulster Museum. Some of the features of the plumage were more suggestive of a Bald Eagle from North America. This surprising result was confirmed by detailed measurement and comparison with specimens in other museums and means this bird did not originate in northern Europe but somehow crossed the Atlantic to arrive in County Fermanagh. Eagles tend to avoid long flights over water, so crossing the Atlantic would have required immense effort. Although a few North American birds are seen annually in Europe, this is the first Bald Eagle ever to have occurred naturally in Northern Ireland.
Comment
Dr Brian Nelson, Curator of Freshwater Invertebrates
There are several reasons why I have chosen this specimen, but primarily it is the association with my native county. As a keen birdwatcher, seeing any eagle in Fermanagh remains an unfulfilled dream, but this specimen proves it is possible. I think it also symbolises the problem of survival that faces many large predatory animals in modern world. The killing of this bird was unnecessary and reprehensible, but without its preservation its incredible story would never have been uncovered.
