2015 Irish Hen Harrier Survey

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

Female Hen Harrier (Shay Connolly).

The Hen Harrier is protected by the EU Birds Directive and listed on Annex 1 and as such monitoring, research and protected areas are a vital component for the conservation of the species. Survey and monitoring data collected during national surveys are vitally important as these data are used by the government and other agencies to help inform management and conservation decisions. 

Several regional declines were recorded during the last survey in 2010 - which can be downloaded HERE - and it is important that we re-survey to establish the status of the species in Ireland, including within six Special Protected Areas which have been designated to maintain and enhance Hen Harrier populations. 

This survey will begin at the start of April and the project co-ordinators are running a series of training workshops to ensure all surveyors are familiar with the methods involved and to offer opportunities for new fieldworkers to participate to help monitor the Hen Harrier population.

Male Hen Harrier (Mike Brown).

Similar to previous years the survey will examine all suitable hen harrier habitats during the breeding season (April to August) and look for evidence of Hen Harriers breeding or using these areas. It will be important for observers to record any hen harrier behaviour as well as their preferred habitats and any threats or pressures in the nearby areas. 

To effectively survey all areas where Hen Harriers occur during the breeding season is a significant undertaking. The survey relies on the support of a substantial volunteer network, and in the past BirdWatch Ireland branches have played a vital role and therefore we hope you will consider volunteering to support this conservation task and to cover a 10km square (or two) or perhaps put together your own small team and cover a number of squares. Standardised methods will be available at the workshops and by email.

You are invited to attend the up-coming survey training workshops which will cover Hen Harrier ecology, methods, reporting and other research opportunities during the course of the survey. These workshops will also allow people to meet other fieldworkers and discuss the methods and survey requirements. For further information on the survey itself and the workshops please visit THIS PAGE on the BirdWatch Ireland website. 

Female Hen Harrier (Shay Connolly).

Even if you can’t take on a survey square you can assist the survey by reporting information and sightings of Hen Harriers in your local area, which will add a valuable insight to the distribution and abundance of the population. You can submit your sightings through the dedicated survey website HERE.

Many thanks in advance for your help and enjoy the watching the harriers (hopefully!).