There are now 46 breeding pairs left in Northern Ireland, a fall of 22% since 2010, when there were 59 pairs, and the numbers are also declining elsewhere in the UK, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reports. The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) population has suffered a decline of 88 pairs (13%) over the past six years with a total UK population estimated to be 545 pairs, according to the latest figures from the fifth national hen harrier survey. Known for their majestic skydancing ritual, this graceful bird is one of the most threatened birds of prey in the UK. Historically, hen harriers were once a much more widespread breeding species before they were driven to extinction in Great Britain during the 19th century.
Source: Belfast Telegraph, 14 July 2017
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/worrying-declin…
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