Jude Lane's post on Monday about the death of a hen harrier (named Bowland Betty) elicited many responses including this poem from Gavin Jones. Gavin lives near Bowland and I was delighted that he was prepared to share his poem via this blog.
The Ghost of a Ringtail
The moor was bright with wisps of mist,
And floating cotton grass in down.
The pipits pointed skyward wired.
So light the sun, so still the moor.
With pivot, dart and kiting wings,
The ringtail took the northern ridge.
She filled the widest sky with sight.
Forever had her line owned flight,
And now the last in phantom form,
Eternal drifting beauty’s spell:
Though lost to life she haunts the hills,
The emptiness and quartered grounds,
How strange that as soon as brave Chrissy's petition which got almost to11,000 signatures without much help from the bird organisations is closed the RSPB now start a big song and dance about Hen Harrier persecution,sorry you are about a year too late.It is only one more year wasted in helping these birds.
A great but very sad poem. As mentioned the other day I know the RSPB is going to tackle this terrible persecution with all the vigour it can muster. I gather the Law Commission is to report to the Government soon on its recommendations for amending the law on a number of countryside issues including better protection in England ?and Wales? for birds of prey. This cannot come soon enough and assuming they recommend much stronger protection, including vicarious liability for land owners, it is important that the Government acts on those recommendations without delay and does not do its usual trick of taking a year, or years, before taking any action themselves.
As mentioned, besides just tackling this terrible persecution head on I think there needs to be "other strands to the bow" to help the Hen Harrier such as perhaps a long term breeding reintroduction programme to areas in southern England where, hopefully persecution would be less, like perhaps, Dartmoor, the Cornish Moors, Exmoor, The New Forest, habitat which is similar to the nothern grouse moors and where the birds often over winter. (The similar Osprey project at Rutland Water has been very successful in this respect).
Any way some thoughts herewith on a possible way ahead for recovery of the Hen Harrier in England. I am sure there are several other ideas worth considering.