We have two more harrier nests! This takes our total to three.
We still have birds present at two other sites, and possibly a third, which continue to show signs of pairing and possible nest building. But things really are very slow, with birds still seemingly unsettled. Speaking to others elsewhere in the country this week, this seems to be a common theme with hen harriers, as well as other birds of prey, with many people speculating about availability of prey species such as voles and meadow pipits.
Hen harriers, like most birds, are fascinating to watch and study, if you put the time in, revealing many aspects of behaviour that most people miss out on. One of these aspects is sky dancing. However, there are other things…
Hen harriers have, what some people might consider, a ‘traditional’ relationship. That is, the female stays at home and looks after the kids, whilst the male does all the providing. However, and many people would also view this as being traditional, the female is undoubtedly the boss in this relationship - she decides where the nest is going to be, is always very demanding of the male, if there’s any sort of a threat she is the one that deals with it whilst the male hangs around in the background, and she won’t let him in the nest!
It is this last fact that provides us with one of the other spectacles that harriers provide – the aerial food pass. This is a ‘blink and you miss it’, sort of thing! But amazing to watch. As the male approaches the nest site, the female rises from the nest and intercepts the male. As she passes under him the male releases his prey, she twists over onto her side and catches the prey as it falls. The male flies on, off to catch something else, whilst the female either eats the food herself or feeds it to any chicks she may have.
Pete
I would love to see a food pass and hopefully will soon as I had great viewing of Hen Harriers on Saturday on both sides of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. I think a return to the same areas will be in order in the coming weeks. Although I don't post much on here I have been reading every update you have made and it is great having another interesting blog to follow. Keep up the good work!