Coastal residents are urged to support a new campaign to save the Hen Harrier and its “captivating skydance” before it becomes extinct.
BirdWatch Ireland, An Taisce and the Environmental Pillar are urging people across the country to call for a government commitment to the protection of this “mesmerising bird of prey” before it is too late.
They say that results of the 2022 National Survey of Hen Harrier in Ireland show that time has almost run out for the Hen Harrier, and that the species is now faring even worse than the Curlew and the Corncrake – species often held up as prime examples of biodiversity loss in Ireland.
Since the last national survey of what is one of Ireland’s rarest birds, the species has declined by one-third in just seven years, with just 85-106 breeding pairs estimated to remain in the country, they state.
It says that draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan (HHTRP) published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) “appropriately identifies the pressures that have brought about the significant population declines” but “does not reflect the gravity of the current situation”.
The organisations say the plan fails to outline a clear plan to restore the species habitat, which essentially make it impossible to measure the adequacy of the plan and mean it will not deliver for Hen Harrier.
Oonagh Duggan Head of Advocacy at BirdWatch Ireland said the plan lacked ambition, and a whole of government drive was needed with habitat restoration measures being “critical”.
The organisations say they “asking the Irish people to send a submission to the National Parks and Wildlife Service outlining our key asks.”
They believe three measures are key, as in:
- Protect all nationally important Hen Harrier breeding and wintering grounds from afforestation, forest management activities, wind energy development and other pressures.
- Restore habitat across all nationally important breeding and wintering sites using clear restoration targets and timelines.
- Guarantee long-term support for farmers through well-funded results-based schemes across all nationally important breeding and wintering grounds.
The draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan is now out for public consultation until 5 p.m. on February 20th, and “members of the public have a chance to have their say”, the organisations state.
Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or in writing to: Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan Consultation, Agri-Ecology Unit, National Parks and Wildlife Service, 90 North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin D07 N7CV.
