Survey of falling hen harriers numbers

A survey of hen harriers is planned for next month in a bid to monitor the dwindling numbers of the endangered bird.

The Golden Eagle Trust, Irish Raptor Study Group, and BirdWatch Ireland have formed a conservation partnership and are co-ordinating the 2015 Irish Hen Harrier Survey on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht.

The most recent national survey on hen harriers recorded 128 to 172 breeding pairs across the country, giving an estimated total of 344 adult birds.