Many people talk about the hen harrier problem - but we are often talking at cross-purposes.  Male hen harrier

As far as we can tell, in England, there were only six successful hen harrier nests in 2009 - so we regard the hen harrier problem as being the lack of these birds.  To hear some people talk, hen harriers are everywhere, overrunning the countryside and gobbling their way through red grouse and wildlife like nobody's business.  Those half a dozen English pairs must get around rather a lot!

This summer one of those six pairs nested in a cereal field in southern England - not in the more usual moorland location.  The RSPB was involved with Natural England in protecting this nest - we worked with the farmer concerned and the police.  Just in case the birds return next spring I won't say any more about this pair except to celebrate its existence and to thank all who played a part in its protection.

John Swift, Chief Executive of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said: “A bad winter has left the hen harrier population even more vulnerable than before – this means that everybody must concentrate on doing what they can to ensure that the moorland habitat continues to be well managed and that persecution is confined to history.".  Well said John - we await others to speak out in the same vein.

And, one more time, as we edge our way ever closer to the 200,000 signatures on our bird of prey pledge - please sign it!

 

 

Parents
  • Yes Mark the Hen Harrier must be one of the most persecuted birds and lets hope John Swift is sincere and can have some influence,it is really great to hear someone like that hoping that persecution confined to history and it seems so out of tune with what is happening that it seems hard to believe but I guess it is frustrating for him that we find it hard to take in.What a wonderful bird it is and when we have seen a male we have said look at that seagull then quickly with a gasp no its a Hen Harrier.Well done for protecting that nest but how sad to have to go to such great lengths when we should be enjoying them.Lets hope that John Swift and others like him can find a way with the RSPB where they can prosper and avoid persecuting these raptors,surely there must be a way and we all know and are sympathetic that raptors take small numbers of their birds but usually the rogue shooters exaggerate these numbers to try and justify what they do.

Comment
  • Yes Mark the Hen Harrier must be one of the most persecuted birds and lets hope John Swift is sincere and can have some influence,it is really great to hear someone like that hoping that persecution confined to history and it seems so out of tune with what is happening that it seems hard to believe but I guess it is frustrating for him that we find it hard to take in.What a wonderful bird it is and when we have seen a male we have said look at that seagull then quickly with a gasp no its a Hen Harrier.Well done for protecting that nest but how sad to have to go to such great lengths when we should be enjoying them.Lets hope that John Swift and others like him can find a way with the RSPB where they can prosper and avoid persecuting these raptors,surely there must be a way and we all know and are sympathetic that raptors take small numbers of their birds but usually the rogue shooters exaggerate these numbers to try and justify what they do.

Children
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