Our ‘skydancers’ in peril
Drastic decline in population of endangered hen harrier bird
HEN harriers are edging closer to extinction, as a new survey reveals a bleak outlook for the future of Ireland’s skydancer.
The results of the fifth national survey of hen harriers in the country have been published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), exposing the further, devastating decline of one of our rarest birds, renowned for spectacular aerial courtship displays, known as the ‘skydance’.
The survey estimated that, at most, 106 breeding pairs of hen harrier remain in the country – having dropped in numbers by a third in the seven years since the last national survey.
Only 85 confirmed pairs of hen harriers were recorded throughout the country, representing the most severe decline of any national survey to date.
Bird Watch Ireland said the report provided a stark warning that under the current rate of decline, hen harriers may be extinct within 25 years. It said urgent interventions are needed now to save Ireland’s iconic bird of prey from our hills and mountains.
The survey was undertaken by a partnership of the Golden Eagle Trust, Irish Raptor Study Group and BirdWatch Ireland, on behalf of the NPWS.
It was supported by a network of voluntary surveyors including birdwatchers, farmers, wildlife rangers, foresters and biologists, with more than 250 field workers dedicating over 7,700 hours to the survey.
The survey for 2022 has revealed that hen harrier populations in five special protected areas have declined by between 20% and 80% since 2007. John Lusby, raptor conservation officer at BirdWatch Ireland, said: ‘We need to act accordingly if we are to stand any chance of ensuring hen harriers don’t become extinct within our lifetimes.’
He said the main reason for the decline is land-use changes resulting in the loss of upland habitat, predominately due to afforestation inside and outside the special protection area network, associated disturbances from forest management activities and other pressures such as wind energy developments.