A recent six-part series under the title A Life in the Wild was commissioned by RTE. It involved re-visiting many of the locations filmed as far back as the 60's, when Éamon and the Dutch artist Gerrit Van Gelderen joined forces to produce Ireland's very first wildlife series.

One particular location featured in the series was the Great Blasket Island off the southwest coast of Ireland, where Éamon de Buitléar and soundman Pat Hayes, along with several birdwatchers were marooned for 5 days! The TV crew along with the birdwatchers, were eventually rescued by the Valentia Lifeboat. In this series Éamon's youngest son Cian, filmed his father recounting his adventures in those various locations, including the Great Blasket Island.

Another location in that early series was the Azores archipelago, where the Amuigh Faoin Spéir team made their very first overseas trip. The historic island of Terceira in the Azores was re-visited later for this series, where new material was filmed and recorded.

Éamon de Buitléar was a former member of the National Heritage Council and past President of Birdwatch Ireland. He is a present serving member of the Central Fisheries Board.

In recognition of his work for the environment, Éamon was nominated to the Seanad (Senate) in 1987 as a non-party Independent Senator.

In 1991 he was awarded an Honorary Degree in Science (DSc.) by the National University of Ireland.
Éamon de Buitléar was granted the 1992 UCD (University College Dublin) Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award in recognition of a lifetime devoted to the achievement of the conservation and wise use of Ireland's environmental endowment.