article_snippet.sent: Bird numbers have dramatically declined in Fukushima, research has revealed.
article_snippet.sent: Researchers have found that bird species are continuing to drop in Fukushima (shown after the disaster in 2011).
article_snippet.sent: One of the most hard-hit species is the barn swallow, Hirundo rustica, which suffered large population losses due to radiation exposure.
article_snippet.sent: One hard-hit species was the barn swallow (stock image shown), Hirundo rustica, which suffered large population losses due to radiation exposure .
article_snippet.sent: One difference noticed so far is that migratory birds fared worse in Chernobyl, whereas it was year-round residents that were doing worse at Fukushima.
article_snippet.sent: This could be due to differences in DNA repair capabilities for migratory species as a result of flapping migratory species wings - which lowers migratory species antioxidant levels and makes migratory species more vulnerable to radiation.
highlights_snippet.sent: Researchers find that bird species are continuing to drop in Fukushima .
  