THE European Union is flying in to help rescue a rare bird in the Trough of Bowland.

A new project has been launched to achieve a secure and sustainable future for the hen harrier, one of the country’s most threatened birds of prey.

It will focus on seven areas, including the United Utilities Bowland Estate in East Lancashire, designated as nesting sites under the European Union Birds Dir-ective.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The Hen Harrier LIFE+ Project will last for five years and will include direct conservation action, comm-unity engagement, and awareness-raising meas-ures.

Between 2004 and 2010 there was an 18 per cent decline in the UK hen harrier population, accor-ding to the National Hen Harrier Survey.

Last year, hen harriers suffered their worst breeding season in England in decades failing to rear a single chick anywhere in England.

While they fared slightly better with four nests in England this year, natural deaths and the sudden, unexplained disappearances of three satellite-tagged birds including two from Bowland, mean that only nine of the 16 chicks fledged are thought to still be alive.

Project manager Blánaid Denman said: “Hen harriers are in dire straits. Numbers are declining dramatically and urgent action is needed, which is why this European-funded project is both welcome and timely.

“The cross-border project provides a huge boost to our efforts to protect hen harriers.

“We’ll have more eyes and ears on the hills than ever before, using satellite tagg-ing, winter roost monitoring and nest protection to deter persecution, identify the important areas for these birds and highlight where they’re most at risk.”