Hen Harrier numbers are down a 3rd for the reason that final survey.
The Slieve Bloom Mountains has seen a pointy decline within the presence of Ireland’s ‘skydancing’ birds.
The fifth survey of the Hen Harrier has discovered 106 breeding pairs stay all through the nation, which is a decline of one-third in simply seven years for the reason that final nationwide survey.
The chicken was recognized to frequent the mountains in Laois and Offaly, because the open heather moorland offered good breeding circumstances.
However, it is believed the elimination and replanting of bushes and excessive ranges of leisure exercise have brought about a disturbance to the Hen Harrier.