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HENHARRIER

Optimum scenarios for Hen Harrier conservation in Ireland

DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 239Kb)  
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 247Kb) 

PROJECT TEAM
Prof. John O'Halloran, University College Cork
Dr Sandra Irwin, University College Cork*
Dr Tom Kelly, University College Cork
Dr Mark Wilson, University College Cork
Barry O'Donoghue, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Barry O'Mahony, University College Cork
Barry Ryan, University College Cork
Paul Troake, University College Cork
Geoff Oliver, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Dr Fidelma Butler, University College Cork

* Email: s.irwin@ucc.ie

COMPLETION DATE: December 2012

BACKGROUND
Hen Harriers can be adequately provided for within Irish Special Protection Areas (SPAs) only when detailed data on their habitat requirements are available. A greater understanding of foraging behaviour and success of Hen Harriers will enable the investigation of the importance of within-habitat variation in determining the value of land to foraging Hen Harriers. This project specifically addresses the issue of land use designation and habitat preferences of the Hen Harrier. Although a species of great conservation concern, previous research in Ireland has focussed almost exclusively on population size. This project is the first large scale study of Hen Harrier breeding ecology and habitat requirements.

OBJECTIVES

  • Increase knowledge of Hen Harrier ecology and foraging behaviour.
  • Determine the value to Hen Harriers of the main habitats in the SPAs.
  • Improve understanding of Hen Harrier habitat requirements at the landscape level, and revise recommendations accordingly, incorporating these into an Indicative Strategy for Hen Harrier management in the SPAs.
  • Compile a GIS database of land use and habitat types within the SPAs, to function both as a tool for decision-making by SPA managers and stake-holders, and as a source of data for researchers.

    PROGRESS
    The current reporting period included the third field season on breeding biology of Irish Hen Harriers. The four study areas selected at the outset of the project were the focus of fieldwork by researchers who gathered detailed information on the 49 nests found within these areas this year. Nest cameras were deployed at a number of nests to gather detailed data on breeding biology and information on parental behaviour during the nesting stage. Control nests, which were unvisited for the duration of the field season, were used for the first time this year in all study areas. Significant efforts were made to track adult Hen Harriers using GPS tags this year, but ultimately were unsuccessful as we were unable to capture adult birds during the current field season. Significant advances were, however, made in modifying existing technology and developing new ideas to enable the use of modern GPS tags with adult Hen Harriers in the Irish landscape, which will be used in future breeding seasons. A harness attachment system, tailor designed for hen harriers has been developed. This system incorporates a weak link designed to break after the desired time has elapsed, allowing the harness to slide off the birds leg and drop to the ground with the tag attached, thus permitting efficient data retrieval from tags. Detailed analysis has been conducted on habitat preferences and breeding success of hen harriers collected to date. The most common nesting habitat was second rotation pre-thicket forest, followed by heath and bog. The probability of nests fledging successfully was found to differ between nests located in second rotation forest, and those located in any other habitat. No effect of habitat composition in the landscape within 2 km of nests was seen on the numbers of chicks fledged from successful nests, but, interestingly, cover of second rotation forest was negatively related to nest success.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
  • Finalise trials of GPS tracking device and prepare for GPS tracking of adults during the 2010 breeding season.
  • Data collected so far on harness attachment and subsequent recapture in the field using VHF technology will be prepared as a manuscript.
  • Locate and track nests during the fourth breeding season of the project and continue juvenile wing-tagging programme.
  • Trap and tag adult Hen Harriers using GPS tags.

    OUTPUTS
    Irwin, S. 2009. Technology supports ecological investigations of Hen Harrier habitat use. Science Spin 36: 17-18.
    O'Donoghue, B.G., O'Donoghue, T.A., Kelly, T.C. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Non-breeding ecology of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland. Current Ornithological Research in Ireland: 5th Ornithological Research Conference, University College Cork, November 2008.
    O'Donoghue, B.G. 2009. Hen Harriers in Ireland. Irish Raptor Study Group Annual Conference 2009.
    O'Donoghue, B.G., O'Donoghue, T.A., O'Halloran, J., Irwin, S., Kelly T.C., Oliver, G. and O'Mahony, B. 2009. Hen Harrier Breeding Ecology in Ireland. ENVIRON '09, Waterford Institute of Technology.
    O'Donoghue, B.G., O'Donoghue, T.A., Kelly, T.C. and O'Halloran, J. 2009. Over-wintering Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus) in Ireland. Poster Presentation. Raptor Research Foundation Annual Conference 2009, Pitlochry, Scotland.
    Wilson, M.W., Irwin, S., Norriss, D., Newton, S.F., Collins, K., Kelly, T.C. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Habitat selection around nest sites by Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland. Current Ornithological Research in Ireland: 5th Ornithological Research Conference, University College Cork, November 2008.
    Wilson, M. W., O'Mahony, B., Dell'Omo, G., Irwin, S., Kelly, T. C. and O'Halloran, J. 2009. GPS tracking of Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus) using a novel system combining VHF and GPS. In: Keller, V. and O'Halloran, J. (eds) 7th Conference of the European Ornithologists' Union Abstracts, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, 152pp.
    Wilson, M.W. and Dell'Omo, G. 2009. Using GPS tracking in studies of birds: Recent developments and current challenges. Symposium No.5. In: Keller, V. and O'Halloran, J. (eds) 7th Conference of the European Ornithologists' Union Abstracts, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, 152pp.
    Wilson, M. W., Cullen, C., O'Donoghue, B.G., Oliver, G., O'Mahony, B., Ryan, B., Troake, P., Irwin, S., Kelly, T. C. and O'Halloran, J. 2009. Habitat, nest site selection and breeding success of Hen Harriers in Ireland. Raptor Research Foundation Annual Conference 2009, Pitlochry, Scotland.
    In May 2009, Living the Wildlife ifeatured a piece on Hen Harrier Research in Ireland. Filming for RTE's EcoEye series was undertaken during the 2009 breeding season and will be aired in April 2010. The programme focuses on the breeding ecology of Hen Harrier in afforested landscapes in Ireland.

     

    2008 report

    PROJECT TEAM
    Prof. John O'Halloran, University College Cork
    Dr Sandra Irwin, University College Cork *
    Dr Tom Kelly, University College Cork
    Dr Mark Wilson, University College Cork
    Barry O'Mahony, University College Cork
    Chris Cullen, University College Cork
    Barry O'Donoghue, University College Cork/National Parks and Wildlife Service
    Steven O'Connell, University College Cork
    Geoff Oliver, National Parks and Wildlife Service

    * Email: s.irwin@ucc.ie

    COMPLETION DATE: December 2012

    BACKGROUND
    Hen Harriers can be adequately provided for within Irish SPAs only when detailed data on their habitat requirements are available. A greater understanding of foraging behaviour and success of Hen Harriers will enable investigation of the importance of within-habitat variation in determining the value of land to foraging Hen Harriers. This project specifically addresses the issue of land use designation and habitat preferences of the Hen Harrier. Although a species of great conservation concern, previous research in Ireland has focussed almost exclusively on population size and this project is the first large-scale study of Hen Harrier breeding ecology and habitat requirements.
    OBJECTIVES
  • Increase knowledge of Hen Harrier ecology and foraging behaviour.
  • Determine the value to Hen Harriers of the main habitats in the SPAs.
  • Improve understanding of Hen Harrier habitat requirements at the landscape level, and revise recommendations accordingly, incorporating these into an Indicative Strategy for Hen Harrier management in the SPAs.
  • Compile a GIS database of land use and habitat types within the SPAs.

    PROGRESS
    2008 was the second successful year of data collection on this project. Fieldwork was conducted with assistance from additional fieldworkers supported financially by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Four field researchers spent the summer months gathering breeding biology data at 60 Hen Harrier nests and ringing and wing-tagging the young chicks. This work resulted in the accrual of a significant volume of data on breeding biology including information on timing of breeding, basic breeding biology, nest site selection, habitat requirements and breeding season outcomes in four research areas (Kerry, West Clare, Ballyhouras and Slieve Aughtys). These data will ultimately contribute to the long term study of Hen Harrier breeding on this project, but preliminary findings based on the first two years of data have been published in Irish Birds in an effort to raise awareness for this work, and to provide those involved with Harrier conservation and members of the public with some basic information on the breeding ecology of Hen Harriers in Ireland. Fieldwork experiences to date have been positive and strong working links have been established with NPWS and IRSG staff and data on breeding success and foraging ecology will continue to be collected until 2012.
    This year also saw the first deployment of nest cameras to observe the parenting behaviour of birds and also the first captures of adult harriers with a view to GPS tracking in 2009. This is the first time that these technologies have been employed with Hen Harriers in Ireland and significant progress was made towards developing protocols for their use on this project during 2009. Although some technical difficulties were experienced with the nest cameras deployed, these were efficiently resolved in most cases and much useful data were obtained. While no GPS tags were deployed during 2008 the capture method was tested and the protocol refined in collaboration with NPWS ahead of the 2009 season when the first GPS tracking of Hen Harriers will be conducted.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
  • Third full season of breeding biology collection, including deployment of nest cameras.
  • GPS tracking of Hen Harriers in Ireland.
  • Update habitat database for Hen Harriers areas (SPAs and areas previously identified as Indicative Areas by NPWS).
  • Dissemination of project findings at international conferences.

    OUTPUTS
    Peer-reviewed papers
    Irwin, S., Wilson, M., Kelly, T.C., O'Donoghue, B., O'Mahony, B., Oliver, G., Cullen, C., O'Donoghue, T. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Aspects of the breeding biology of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland. Irish Birds. Vol 8(3): 331-334.
    O'Halloran, J., Kelly, T.C., Irwin, S. and Newton, S. 2008. Current Ornithological Research in Ireland: 5th Ornithological Research Conference, UCC November 2008. Irish Birds. Vol 8(3): 441-488.
    Wilson, M., Irwin, S., Norriss, D., Newton, S., Collins, K., Kelly, T. and O'Halloran, J. In Review. Nest site selection by Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland. Ibis.

    Popular articles
    O'Donoghue, B. 2008. In Search of the Sky Dancer. Wings magazine (Summer 2008).

    Presentations at conferences
    Irwin, S., Kelly, D. L., Kelly, T., McCarthy, N., Mitchell, F., Coote, L., Oxbrough, A., Wilson, M., Martin, R., French, V., Fox, H., Sweeney, O., Moore, K. and O'Halloran, J. 2008. Planning and management tools for biodiversity in a range of Irish forests. (Poster presentation). ENVIRON 2008, DkIT.
    O'Donoghue, B. 2007. The Irish Hen Harrier - an illustrated talk. Presented at Sligo Institute of Technology, November 9th 2007; Fort Dunree, Irishwomen, Co Donegal, November 16th 2007; Presented at BurrenLife, County Council Chambers, Ennis, Co Clare, February 13th 2008; Presented at Killarney National Park Spring Week, International Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry, 26 April 2008.
    Wilson, M. 2008. Habitat requirements of Hen Harriers in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Trust - Slieve Felim group. Glenstal Abbey Library, October 2008.

    Inputs to curriculum development and teaching
    Mark Wilson lecture to `Early Start' class in Zoology Department, UCC, September 2008: Habitat requirements of Hen Harriers in Ireland.

    Databases and data management
    2007-2008 breeding locations, reproductive biology and nesting success of Hen Harriers in Ballyhouras, North Kerry, Slieve Aughtys and West Clare (complete).
    Habitat classification of Hen Harrier SPAs and Indicative Areas (complete, requires updating).
    2007-2008 detailed habitat within 2 km of Hen Harrier nest (ongoing).

    Internet presence
    The Hen Harrier was featured as `Species of the month' on the noticenature.ie website in July 2008.
    Project website: www.ucc.ie/en/planforbio/Projects/HENHARRIER/