Ireland's Hen Harriers in trouble

[Bobbie Ireland]

My first encounter with a Hen Harrier came a number of years ago while I was walking our Sheltie, Dulcie, in Connemara. Up it rose from the bracken and I don't know who was more surprised - the bird or us. Having seen a splendid Northern Harrier streak across my sister's yard while I was Stateside, it is sad to read of their Irish cousins' problems in The Irish Times today.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sciencetoday/2011/0106/1224286856641.html