A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN MAYO AND DONEGAL EARLIER THIS YEAR SHOWS THE CURLEW, A WETLAND BIRD WITH A  HAUNTING CALL, HAS ALMOST VANISHED FROM IRELAND IN JUST 20 YEARS, IN WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC DECLINES EVER RECORDED FOR A BIRD ON THIS ISLAND.

FROM A BREEDING POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 5,000 PAIRS IN 1991, CURLEW NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED TO FEWER THAN 200 PAIRS TODAY, WHICH, IF THE ESTIMATES ARE CORRECT, WOULD REPRESENT A DECLINE OF MORE THAN 96PC.

IT IS FEARED THAT THE BIRD COULD BE EXTINCT WITHIN A DECADE.

DR ANITA DONAGHY OF BIRDWATCH IRELAND, WHO LED THE STUDY  OF CURLEW NUMBERS LAST SPRING,  LOOKED AT 60 SITES THAT PREVIOUSLY HELD CURLEWS IN COUNTIES DONEGAL AND MAYO, AND FOUND THAT ONLY SIX OF THEM WERE OCCUPIED -- WITH A TOTAL OF ONLY EIGHT PAIRS, FOUR IN MAYO AND FOUR IN DONEGAL.

SPEAKING TO MIDWEST NEWS DR DONAGHY SAID THAT AMONG THE FACTORS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTING ON THE DECLINE OVER THE 20 YEAR PERIOD ARE INCREASED PLANTING OF FORESTRY, THE CONSTRUCTION OF WIND FARMS, AND THE COMMERCIAL EXTRACTION OF PEAT FROM BOGS.