Hen Harriers

It's true, sadly - only one known breeding pair in England in 2012. The situation is beyond awful.

Also, a young female Hen Harrier hatched in 2011 in England - and fitted with a satellite tracker - was found dead in Yorkshire last month. She'd been shot. This bird would probably have nested in England in 2013 if she'd lived (and found a mate) www.rspb.org.uk/.../bowland-betty-final-update.aspx

Thanks Claire / aiki . I did know the situation was extremely bad for the English Hen Harrier but didnt realise we were down to just one breeding pair.

Unfortunately it is true and I do not think the successful pair were in a regular breeding area but I may be wrong on that.Bowland Betty was found dead in the recording area of our small dales based club so we are pretty upset about this and other similar crimes in the surrounding area.

It's a shocking state of affairs. It's clear the shooting community (despite their claims otherwise) are responsible for the persecution. Grouse moors are largely devoid of raptors with the Hen Harrier suffering the most.

You might want to sign this: https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43978

The situation does seem to be quite  disgraceful.

The opposing view stated on the programme was that there must be more unrecorded nests due to remote breeding sites.

I was aware that the situation in England was dire, but not to this extent.

Hi Claire,almost certainly the opposing view comes from those who persecute the Hen Harrier and almost certainly until the law gets made stiffer the Hen Harrier in England as a breeding bird is extinct.Even when birds colonise in areas where no Hen Harriers nest they are also killed.

Really bad as on Mull where there is no persecution they breed.

It seems to me that we could do with a conservation minded monied land-owner to set up a protected breeding site!

Edit:  Have signed the petition but note that there are not that many signatures

There is an EDM in Parliament that has more MPs signed up to it than this petition.  It may be better to ask your MP to sign the EDM.