Usage of "its numbers"?

Question

Hi! I'm a student studying GMAT.Please give me some explanation of the expression below.The gyrfalcon,and arctic bird of prey,has survived a close brush with extinction;its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.Why the writer use 'its numbers' instead of 'its number'?Does it mean kind of species of gyrfalcon?Please give the detailed explanation with some other expressions.Thank you.Haewon

Sunsail · Accepted Answer

Hi,
I refers to members of a species. "its number is greater.." it is not meaningful
Best Regards

Fandorin · Answer

(numbers) a large quantity or amount, often in contrast to a smaller one; numerical preponderance.

The weight of numbers turned the battle against them.

You use number with words such as `large' or `small' to say approximately how many things or people there are (can be both plural and singualar).

Growing numbers of people in the rural areas are too frightened to vote.

A considerable amount or quantity; many; A large quantity; a multitude: Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/number

The construction the number of + plural noun is used with a singular verb (as in the number of people affected remains small). Thus it is the noun number rather than the noun people that is taken to agree with the verb (and is therefore functioning as the head noun).
By contrast, the apparently similar construction a number of + plural noun is used with a plural verb (as in a number of people remain to be contacted). In this case, it is the noun people that acts as the head noun and with which the verb agrees. In the latter case, a number of works as if it were a single word, such as some or several.

In your example, I guess, noun numbers is used because of two species of birds, given as the whole group of them.

Where items in a list are separated by and, the following verb needs to be in the plural.

AnonymousThe gyrfalcon and arctic bird of prey have survived a close brush with extinction;

its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.

Usage of "its numbers"?

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