The Return of the Grey Ghost

Our hope is to kick start this project through undertaking a detailed feasibility study which will examine the potential pros and cons of re-introducing this iconic Irish raptor, an important element of which will be engaging directly with key stakeholders from a variety of sectors across Ireland.

Context

The Goshawk, a larger version of the much more familiar Sparrowhawk, was once widespread across Ireland and was sufficiently abundant that during the late 17^th century, birds from County Tyrone were among those noted for their hardiness and therefore preference for use in falconry. By the late 18th century, hunting with birds of prey in Ireland was restricted largely to a few wealthy landowners and gradually the practice dwindled in popularity with a concurrent increase in the persecution of raptors as gamebird rearing and shooting sports increased in popularity.

The clearance of mature woodland, the primary habitat of the Goshawk, across Ireland on a commercial scale in recent millennia has without doubt been the main driver behind what was likely a steep decline in Goshawk numbers across the island, this being confounded in more recent centuries by increased levels of persecution and habitat fragmentation. With few people interested in the species aside from the occasional austringer (trainer of Goshawks for the purposes of hunting) and birdwatcher, it is highly likely that the Goshawk quietly suffered extinction across Ireland sometime between 1880 and the mid-1900’s.

The Project

18 October 2023
In Planning
extinct species
All Ireland
€20,000.00

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Between the two World Wars, Ireland experienced a resurgence in those interested in and practicing falconry and as a result birds were imported into Ireland for this purpose. Not surprisingly, some birds escaped into the wild and no doubt some Goshawks were also deliberately released into the wild in an attempt to re-establish wild populations, from which future progeny could be utilised for hunting purposes. As a result, Goshawks now breed sporadically across Ireland and breeding in recent years has been confirmed from Counties Derry, Antrim, Down and Cork with possible breeding in counties Tyrone, Armagh and Kilkenny. Confusing the picture, however, is the very elusive nature of the Goshawk – hence its alternative name of ‘the Grey Ghost’. In some parts of the UK for example, raptor enthusiasts and birdwatchers know of the species’ presence in a given area yet the species is still rarely seen.

The main prey of Goshawks are medium- to large-sized birds including crows and medium-sized mammals which include rabbits and squirrels. There is therefore some potential to bolster the existing small and fragmented populations of Goshawks across Ireland through a carefully planned reintroduction programme which would serve to bring back this iconic Irish raptor into key parts of the Island where suitable habitat and prey exists.

A renewed Goshawk population across Ireland may also serve two important ecological functions:

to aid in the control of the Grey Squirrel, an invasive non-native species, and in so doing may act as the avian equivalent of the Pine Marten; and
to help control the numbers of crows, particularly Rooks, Magpies, Jays and Hooded Crows which currently have few to no natural predators in many areas and as a result place an unnaturally high burden on the breeding success of many small passerines. Rooks can also cause damage to agricultural crops in certain circumstances.