Irish hen harrier numbers continue to decline, survey says

Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) numbers in Ireland are continuing to decline, according to the results of a new survey. The number of breeding pairs has also declined even within special areas of conservation set up to protect the bird. The 2015 survey showed there are between 108 and 157 breeding pairs across Ireland, down by 8.7 per cent since the 2010 survey, the research team said. The situation may be worse than the numbers indicate, given the decline of breeding pairs in “special protected areas” (SPAs) set up to promote the breed.In 2015, harrier populations in several SPAs were found to have declined, with an overall decline of 26.6 per cent since 2005, the researchers found. These SPAs, representing 2.3 per cent of Ireland’s land area, are important, given that they hold 44 per cent of all known harrier pairs in the country, said John Lusby, survey coordinator with BirdWatch Ireland. “The current survey results confirm that populations within parts of the SPA network are declining, and without intervention through appropriate management further declines at certain sites are anticipated,” he said. Data from the survey will inform attempts to halt the decline through the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan, currently being prepared by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Source: The Irish Times, 20 April 2016
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/irish-hen-harrier-numbers-contin…