Contract Award Provision of habitat data for six Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas using remote techniques

Tender description

The Contract has now been awarded to FERS Ltd The Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus is listed on Annex 1 of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/ 147/EC) and is Amber listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (Lynas et al 2007). Six European Sites (Special Protection Areas) have been classified for the conservation of this breeding species. A survey of breeding Hen Harrier reported that 128 to 172 breeding pairs were recorded in 2010 which was broadly similar to the totals recorded in the previous survey in 2005. However notable declines were recorded in some traditional strongholds of this species’ breeding range (Ruddock et al 2012). The development of a threat response plan for the conservation of Hen Harrier in Ireland is underway and DAHG now seeks tenders for the provision of habitat mapping data for the six Special Protection Areas that are listed for breeding Hen Harrier.