I saw lots of hailstones on the fell yesterday but not many harriers. No harriers in fact. In fact I’ve not seen a harrier all year.
Now I should point out that I am not on the hill every day like Mick (Bowland Assistant Warden) but even Mick hasn't seen many. If this were a typical year (prior to 2012) I would be seeing harriers (plural) every time I go on the fell.
Sadly, as the weeks tick by we are having to face the ever increasing possibility that for a second successive year there will be no hen harriers breeding in the Forest of Bowland.
That said we are still receiving reports of single birds being seen so there is still chance of a pair settling somewhere and so we will continue to look.
Even so, I’m pretty unhappy about the situation. So are the rest of my team, my RSPB colleagues, my United Utilities colleagues and their shooting tenants. Regardless of whether we get a pair or two breeding in Bowland this year there is no escaping the fact that the Bowland population has essentially dropped off a cliff these last couple of years.
Can we blame the prolonged winter this year? Possibly. However the weather can only be suppressing breeding to this extent because ultimately the English population is so low – a result of illegal persecution (nationally).
Encouragingly it appears we are not the only ones unhappy with this situation. Someone living in (presumably) the AONB is also angry about this situation and has taken it upon themselves to publicise the demise of the Bowland hen harrier population to others living in and visiting the AONB.
Sadly this sign doesn’t depict the true situation, it needs updating (if the mystery sign painter is reading?) but it’s getting across the correct picture and it’s heartening to see that others feel as passionately as I and the organisation do about the plight of this rare and special creature.