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| Hen harrier plunges towards extinction in England | Hen harrier plunges towards extinction in England |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The hen harrier, an iconic bird of prey, is heading towards the brink of extinction in England, new figures suggest. | The hen harrier, an iconic bird of prey, is heading towards the brink of extinction in England, new figures suggest. |
| There are just four breeding pairs left in England and numbers are declining elsewhere in the UK. | There are just four breeding pairs left in England and numbers are declining elsewhere in the UK. |
| Scotland is the traditional stronghold of these raptors, but numbers have fallen 9% since 2010. | Scotland is the traditional stronghold of these raptors, but numbers have fallen 9% since 2010. |
| Numbers of hen harrier pairs in Wales fell by more than a third over the same period. | Numbers of hen harrier pairs in Wales fell by more than a third over the same period. |
| The birds of prey live primarily on heather moorland. The males are easily identified by their black wing tips. | The birds of prey live primarily on heather moorland. The males are easily identified by their black wing tips. |
| The females look completely different, with puffy brown plumage that helps camouflage them and their nests. | The females look completely different, with puffy brown plumage that helps camouflage them and their nests. |
| But this iconic species is under severe threat, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). | But this iconic species is under severe threat, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). |
| Illegal killings, along with destruction of their habitat, are behind the collapse of their population in England. Numbers fell from twelve pairs in 2010 to just four in 2016. | Illegal killings, along with destruction of their habitat, are behind the collapse of their population in England. Numbers fell from twelve pairs in 2010 to just four in 2016. |
| Numbers of pairs in Scotland fell from 505 to 460 over the period, while in Wales they declined from 57 to 35 breeding pairs. | Numbers of pairs in Scotland fell from 505 to 460 over the period, while in Wales they declined from 57 to 35 breeding pairs. |
| In Northern Ireland, pairs fell from 59 recorded in 2010 to 46 in 2016. | In Northern Ireland, pairs fell from 59 recorded in 2010 to 46 in 2016. |
| Hen harriers feed on grouse, which has brought conservationists into conflict with managers of estates involved in grouse shooting. | Hen harriers feed on grouse, which has brought conservationists into conflict with managers of estates involved in grouse shooting. |
| Martin Harper, conservation director at the RSPB, said: "The latest figures back up a continued trend that we have seen for more than a decade - hen harrier numbers are on the decline throughout the UK. | Martin Harper, conservation director at the RSPB, said: "The latest figures back up a continued trend that we have seen for more than a decade - hen harrier numbers are on the decline throughout the UK. |
| "The illegal killing of this bird of prey is a significant factor behind the diminishing numbers and a large barrier stopping their recovery." | "The illegal killing of this bird of prey is a significant factor behind the diminishing numbers and a large barrier stopping their recovery." |
| A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "We take the protection of wildlife extremely seriously and have robust measures in place to protect all wild birds, including the hen harrier. | |
| "Anyone who kills or injures a wild bird is committing an offence and could face jail if convicted." | |
| Longer term figures highlight the dramatic decline in the UK hen harrier population over the past 12 years. | Longer term figures highlight the dramatic decline in the UK hen harrier population over the past 12 years. |
| The national survey in 2004 pointed to an estimated 749 pairs, meaning hen harrier numbers have fallen by 204 pairs (39%) in the succeeding years. | The national survey in 2004 pointed to an estimated 749 pairs, meaning hen harrier numbers have fallen by 204 pairs (39%) in the succeeding years. |
| Mr Harper added: "Without purposeful action from all, including governments across the UK and the shooting industry, we may see hen harriers once again lost from more parts of the country." | |
| Follow Paul on Twitter. | Follow Paul on Twitter. |