A study has found that a quarter of bird species on the island of Ireland are now on the `red list' of high conservation concern.
Puffins, swifts and kestrels are among 23 birds that have been moved on to the list.
Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland 2020-2026 has been jointly compiled by RSPB NI and BirdWatch Ireland.
The study found that curlews and corncrakes are at risk of extinction in Ireland as well as puffins, kittiwakes and razorbills, three species to be found on Rathlin Island.
In more positive news, robins have gone from an amber list to the green list.
Of 211 species studied, the review placed 54 on the red list, 79 on the amber list and 78 on the green list.
Gillian Gilbert, RSPB NI principal conservation scientist, said: "It's extremely alarming to see a quarter of bird species on the island of Ireland now on the red list.
"It’s sad to see swifts and kestrels, among other species, facing such declines, while anyone who has visited the Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre will know and love the puffins, kittiwakes and razorbills on the sea stacks and should rightly be concerned that they are now on the red list," she said.
"Because these seabirds are doing poorly across Europe and indeed across the world, this makes the birds we have across the island of Ireland crucially important and we need to do everything we can to protect them".
