Eagle owls - behaving badly? or just doing what comes naturally?

Every time I write about eagle owls I feel I should say that they are fantastic birds - because they are!  I remember first seeing them in the south of France and being amazed by their size, and power and beauty.  And I still am.

But I wish they would behave themselves a bit better - or is that the wrong way to look at it?

This year in the Forest of Bowland, an eagle owl has been filmed 'visiting' a hen harrier nest.  Visiting makes it sound a bit friendlier than it actually was - the hen harrier female was never seen again and the nest was deserted.  Now opinions differ a bit about whether eagle owls do this type of thing a lot - but this eagle owl picked on a rare breeding species (in England), and one that has plenty of other problems from unwelcome visits to its nest (that's why the nest camera was there in the first place!).

Eagle owls are a native UK species - but not for thousands of years.  Even though it is not the most important aspect of the argument, the RSPB doesn't believe (we may be wrong - it happens!) that there are any eagle owls in the UK that got here from the continent under their own steam or are the offspring of such birds.  Our view, based on the evidence, is that all eagle owls flying around the UK are derived from UK captive origin.  But we might be proved wrong in future.

There is little doubt though, that there are lots of eagle owls escaping from captivity every year and that some of these birds find mates and set up territories - mostly in upland areas.  There are several well-documented cases of such birds.

I revealed in this blog last year that there is a pair of eagle owls nesting on an RSPB nature reserve somewhere in the UK and that we are monitoring their diet.  Last year they seemed to be making a good living off rabbits with the occasional red grouse and pheasant, but the monitoring goes on.

Now, I have often pointed out in this blog that predators predate - it's kind of what they do!

So how should we feel about eagle owls predating or disturbing hen harriers? I'm not sure.  You tell me.  I wish they wouldn't - but that's what predators do.

The eagle owl and the hen harrier have overlapping ranges in many European countries.  Have a look at their distributions (eagle owl, hen harrier).  Presumably what has happened in the Forest of Bowland happens right across Europe now and again.  Are eagle owls demonised elsewhere for their behaviour?

What do you think?  I'd really like to know.

It does rather back up the point that I have made to grouse moor managers - if only you let a few golden eagles survive you might not have to break the law and bump off hen harriers.  And to some pheasant (now that really is a non-native species!) enthusiasts in Suffolk - a few white-tailed eagles might reduce the marsh harrier numbers a bit!

 Here is the Natural England press release:

Caught on camera: Eagle owl raids hen harrier nest

9 June 2010

Natural England and the RSPB confirmed today that an eagle owl in Bowland, Lancashire has been filmed on CCTV attacking a nesting female hen harrier - one of England’s rarest birds of prey.

Whilst the owl was still present a few hours later, the incubating harrier has not been seen again and its nest has now failed.

Bowland has increasingly established itself as the last remaining stronghold for the hen harrier - a bird that has been driven to extinction in most other parts of the country. Last year there were only six successful nests across the whole of England – and, with numbers critically low, the news of eagle owl predation at Bowland is a significant blow to the hen harrier’s future.

Dr Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said: “Eagle owls – a non-native species – are a recent arrival in Lancashire, following their probable escape from captivity. The nest-cam footage confirms suspicions that they are impacting on hen harrier breeding success in Bowland.

“The additional threat posed by eagle owls, to an already threatened population of hen harriers, raises significant questions about the future survival of this native breeding bird in England. There will be an opportunity at the end of the breeding season to weigh up the evidence and assess how to proceed with the hen harrier recovery project”.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Director of Conservation, said: “Hen harrier numbers in England are perilously low due to years of illegal shooting and poisoning. Last year saw just six successful nests in the whole country - four in Bowland. It is vital we do not lose them from this last stronghold.

“It is hugely important that we reach a decision on eagle owls soon, but that decision has to be based on solid evidence.

“While dramatic, we must remember this footage is still just part of the picture. Monitoring of eagle owls is continuing at various sites across the UK and all the evidence gathered will be assessed at end of the breeding season.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For further information: Contact Beth Rose in the Natural England press office on:
0300 060 1405 or 07900 608 052 or beth.rose@naturalengland.org.uk

About eagle owls
Recently, a small number of non-native eagle owls have become established in the Bowland Fells and started to breed successfully.  A recent review by the British Ornithologists’ Union concluded that eagle owls were only present as a result of escapes from captivity. (There are over 3,000 in captivity in England).

Since April 2010, eagle owls have been included on Schedule 9 of the 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act, which makes it illegal to release eagle owls into the wild in Great Britain.

Within its native range the eagle owl is a top predator and adults have no natural enemies. It is known to kill other predatory species, for food or to remove competition, and can reduce the breeding success of other birds of prey. Although healthy populations of other birds of prey can coexist with eagle owls in large landscapes, small populations that are already limited by other factors are extremely vulnerable.

About Natural England
Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

• We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.

• We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.

• We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.

• We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.

• We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.

About the RSPB
The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment.
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The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654