Hen Harrier

The 2015 National Survey of Breeding Hen Harrier in Ireland

February 7, 2022adminLeave a comment

Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 93

Ruddock, M., Mee, A., Lusby, J., Nagle, T., O’Neill, S. & O’Toole, L

The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a protected raptor, listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive and as such, Member States are obligated to protect and conserve the species.

These obligations involves key actions to designate Natura 2000 sites, also known as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and also to undertake monitoring of hen harriers nationally, regionally and within the designated areas.

The fourth national survey of hen harriers in Ireland was undertaken in 2015 and was preceded by surveys in 2010; 2005 and 1998-2000.

Similar to previous surveys the aims were to quantify the size and distribution of the breeding population and examine changes since the previous national surveys.

The survey effort and participation increased since 2010 with more than 7000 hours observational effort undertaken by 259 fieldworkers, largely via volunteer networks.

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THREAT RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE HEN HARRIER 2021-2025 – Draft for Consultative Committee

February 7, 2022adminLeave a comment

June 2021

Author: Evelyn Kirwan

Prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in consultation with The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

The potential threats to breeding Hen Harrier that are considered to be of most significance relate to forestry, agriculture and wind energy development, as identified through the consultation process.

Q: is there a specific consultation document on forestry and/or agriculture, in a similar format to the “Hen Harrier Conservation and the Wind Energy Sector in Ireland” document? Note: Hen Harrier SPAs include commercial coniferous forest plantations (more than 50% by area).

Table 1. List of factors considered to be acting as pressures and/or threats (of H=high; M=medium; L=low importance) to breeding and wintering Hen Harrier populations in Ireland. This information has been compiled from recent assessments for Hen Harrier, as reported by Ireland under Article 12 of the Birds Directive (2019). Please note for ‘Season’ below, B = Breeding and W = Wintering.

N.B. The number of factors which could be reported out on was capped at ten. Therefore, only those factors considered to be the highest ranking for each season are listed below

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Hen Harrier Conservation and the Wind Energy Sector in Ireland

February 7, 2022February 8, 2022adminLeave a comment

June 2021

Citation: NPWS, (2021). Hen Harrier Conservation and the Wind Energy Sector in Ireland. Supporting document to the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The first draft of this report was commissioned by NPWS (now of the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government) to inform the development of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan (HHTRP) and was prepared by Marc Ruddock.

Information on the distribution and characteristics of turbines installed in Ireland up to June 2016 was analysed for the purposes of this report; meanwhile, policy changes and developments up to the time of publication (early 2021) were detailed. Due to the time required to finalise the HHTRP, these final additions and updates were made to the report by NPWS.

Members of the HHTRP Interdepartmental Steering Group and Consultative Committee were also consulted on earlier drafts and their comments taken into consideration.

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