Up to 70 golden eagle chicks from Scotland are to be transferred to north-west Ireland in an attempt to reintroduce the birds.

The chicks are being moved as part of a five-year project to establish a breeding population in County Donegal.

The golden eagle, which is a protected species in the UK, has not been found breeding in Ireland for nearly a century.

Collection of the birds, aged between five and six weeks, will start within the next few days and the first 12 will be moved across the Irish sea before the end of the month.

Golden eagles normally lay two eggs, but the elder chick often kills the younger one.

Tracking plans

For the Irish transfer, only one will be removed from each specially-selected nest in a large area so that numbers in Scotland are not affected.

When they arrive in Donegal they will be held captive for six weeks before being released.

They will be fitted with small radio transmitters before they are freed so they can be tracked.

The initiative which was originally conceived in 1989 is being part-funded by the Irish government.

Official approval for the scheme had to be given in Scotland because the golden eagle is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.