Not looking good for the Hen harrier

Neil B

Neil B

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Bad news again HERE
I have been lucky enough to actually see one of these hunting on a couple of occasions, once on Mull and the other time was in Wales.
Such a shame that these precious birds will soon be gone from the UK if things don't change and that the next generation will just read about it rather than enjoy one of natures finest BOP.
 
Not good news at all.
 
Certainly a one-sided opinion of who is responsible in the 'Comments' ... it does seem feasible but are there other plausible reasons why this should have happened in the same area?
 
Bowland is on my doorstep Roger, opinion is that they are being shot by keepers. Saying that, there is no hard evidence to prove that.

You would hope that there is enough grouse to keep shooters and harriers happy.
 
gramps said:
Certainly a one-sided opinion of who is responsible in the 'Comments' ... it does seem feasible but are there other plausible reasons why this should have happened in the same area?
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Maybe all three males had a day out in North Yorkshire :thinking:, now that would be a one way ticket :(
 
Neil B said:
Maybe all three males had a day out in North Yorkshire :thinking:, now that would be a one way ticket :(
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One of the males from last year was found a N Yorks estate, not ours I hasten to add.

The county really has a disgraceful record on BOP persecution.
 
You would have thought that with all the prolific bird photographers on here, this topic may have actually interested a few more people...................:thinking:
 
Not looking good at all, i have never seen one of these beautiful birds, and by the looks of things may never do in the future :(
 
I can't believe that if the "authorities" tried hard enough they couldn't work out pretty well who was responsible - i.e. apply lots of filters until you get to the local shotgun certificate holding group and determine who would have the motive etc Is it called vicarious liability where the land owner gets prosecuted as whilst that might not have helped with these three it does start to get to the root of the problem...
 
Scotland has vicarious liability for landowners in relation to wildlife crimes, but so far the calls for it's introduction in England and Wales hasn't been successful.
 
The W said:
Scotland has vicarious liability for landowners in relation to wildlife crimes, but so far the calls for it's introduction in England and Wales hasn't been successful.
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Thanks The W - I hadn't realised it was only in Scotland.
 
I consider myself lucky I can go and watch these magnificent birds anytime there are a number of sites within a 10 minute drive and fortunately they are well protected in the area but rovers do disappear from time to time. I know that there can be many reasons for their disappearance but when it happens time and time again over grouse moors even the most sceptical has to wonder.
 
The news does not get any better, I find it totally incomprehensible as to why you would do this. I can't image from even the most hard headed point of view that a single nest (as the likelihood of having multiple on one estate seems vanishing small) would have a significant economic effect?
 
You could, unfortunately, be correct, Neil. I do not want to suggest these are not important and worrying events, but the hen harrier is, thankfully, safe in Scotland.

Two of the good areas for the hen harrier in Scotland - Islay and Orkney - also have game bird shoots, but somehow, the harriers do very well in these places.

Dave
 
Sad to see another rare bird numbers cutting down again, yet again humans ruining wildlife...Just like whats going on in Malta and most places over the world, it seems that most of the human rase can only destroy not protect wildlife these days
 
Tringa said:
You could, unfortunately, be correct, Neil. I do not want to suggest these are not important and worrying events, but the hen harrier is, thankfully, safe in Scotland.

Two of the good areas for the hen harrier in Scotland - Islay and Orkney - also have game bird shoots, but somehow, the harriers do very well in these places.

Dave
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I think you hit the nail on the head there Dave, in contrast here in North Yorkshire we see very few BOP up on the shooting moorland apart from the odd Buzzard.
What did make me confused or maybe i just missed it was how little the Hen harrier persecution was mentioned on "Springwatch" but then again when the "Britain's favorite bird" is a Robin and the Hen harrier comes in at no9 out of 10 you do have to wonder if people will be arsed when it is gone :thinking:
 
Seen my first male earlier this year on Exmoor as it passed overhead and skimmed the same field the SEO's were working that day I do hope it won't be the last I ever see :(
 
Some slightly better news 17 chicks fledged this year well down on last year (47 but that was exceptional) but still 17 more. one of the young males has been satellite tagged so hopefully he and rest will survive over winter it will be interesting to see were his journey takes him.

You can follow this tracking here http://langholmmoorland.blogspot.co.uk/

You can also see what’s happened previous years.
 
tarric said:
Some slightly better news 17 chicks fledged this year well down on last year (47 but that was exceptional) but still 17 more. one of the young males has been satellite tagged so hopefully he and rest will survive over winter it will be interesting to see were his journey takes him.

You can follow this tracking here http://langholmmoorland.blogspot.co.uk/

You can also see what’s happened previous years.
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Doesn't look quite so good ATM unfortunately :(

https://raptorpersecutionscotland.w...nnie-found-shot-dead-on-scottish-grouse-moor/
 
It was sad to hear that they had lost the signal from Annie's tag on the 19th of March I had hoped that it was just a malfunction but alas her body was found (unusually) near Daer Reservoir on the Queensberry Estate she had been shot, Annie was one of last year’s youngsters she was satellite tagged in 2014, her mother Grannie and another female Hattie were tagged in 2013 both bred again this year. One of the males from this year has been fitted with a satellite tag so we will just have to wait and see how they get on between now and next year fingers crossed.

Call me crazy but when these and other BOP keep turning up dead on grouse moors be they shot, poisoned or as usually happens with tagged birds just disappear even the most sceptical of us must think that the people looking after these moorlands must be involved in some way.

I personally think that it's time the owners of these estates were held responsible.
 
peak4 said:
Unfortunately some press articles don't do much for the Hen Harrier's conservation effort; e.g. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-birds-terrorise-countryside-attack-pets.html
Have a read of the last section after the Osprey Video
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Ah, the good 'ole DM. They, the Express & the red-top tabloids are or have been responsible for so much irresponsible, sensationalist journalism & persecution - people and wildlife. Wish THEY and the people who believe their half-truths, if not direct lies, were extinct.

I fail to understand why the birds are not afforded the same protection south of the border. Until the estate owners and their gamekeepers start being held responsible, they will continue doing whatever they like.
 
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oops.
 
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