The Golden Eagle Trust, which was set up in 2001 to reintroduce golden eagles to Ireland after an absence of 100 years, says the project is in serious trouble after another eagle chick was found dead.
The eagle, called Conall, hatched in Glenveagh National Park, Co Donegal in April last year and was the first Donegal hatched chick to be fitted with a satellite receiver.
Its signal led to the eagle chick being found on 18 February on the side of Truskmore, Co Sligo.
Test results have now confirmed that he was poisoned.
Lorcan O'Toole, Golden Eagle Trust, says that it ate a dead or aborted lamb which had poison on it, probably meant for foxes or crows.
He said that the trust has had a good relationship with farmers, but there is now an issue of the overuse of poison in Irish farming and it threatens the future of the project.
President of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association Gabriel Gilmartin said his organisation condemns poisoning, which is illegal, but he said there should be greater communication between farmers and the wildlife service and that if golden eagles are in an area for more than a few days, then farmers should be informed.
