What surprises await our threatened raptors on red grouse moors in 2016?
This depiction of a hen harrier remains the proud logo for the Forest of Bowland AONB, despite the almost total eradication of successful nesting hen harrier on all but one estate.
Last year a number of gas guns were strategically installed on moorland in southern Scotland and on one estate adjoining the RSPB’s Geltsdale reserve where they appear to have been used to cause maximum disturbance to hen harriers by frightening them away before settling on moorland to breed. One pair of harriers regularly observed last spring on the Croglin estate were persuaded to up sticks crossing the boundary fence onto the RSPB’s Geltsdale Nature Reserve where they eventually managed to lay a clutch of eggs. Disappointingly the nest and eggs were eventually abandoned by the female hen harrier after her mate failed to return from a hunting trip he had undertaken onto the adjoining grouse moor at Croglin.
One of the missing Male Hen Harrier photographed in the Forest of Bowland on its way to hunt for food on an adjoining estate.
Several hen harrier nests in 2015 established on the United Utilities
estate in the Forest of Bowland, collectively estimated to contain as
many as twenty five eggs, were abandoned after 4 male hen harriers
failed to return to their territories after they had gone in search of
prey to feed their respective female mates. The disappearance from
English grouse moors of so many male hen harriers in one season clearly
demonstrated this was a well planned and executed new strategy
implemented to ensure the failure of nests and the impossibility of ever
tracing those criminals responsible. In our view because of the
success of this illegal scheme last year, there is a very strong
possibility this untraceable hen harrier cleansing methodology is likely
to be adopted once again this season, but over a much wider moorland
area in northern England, and possibly even in parts of Scotland.In in a recent comment posted on Martin Harper’s blog, it was suggested to the RSPB the Society should this season consider the implementation of suitable contingency plans designed to deal with a repeat of last year’s criminal activity i.e., the licensed collection of all abandoned clutches of hen harrier eggs before they go cold following the disappearance of male hen harriers, placing rescued eggs into suitable incubators.
In
a second comment posted on Raptor Politics it was suggested by Terry
Pickford any eggs rescued from abandoned harrier nests this season
should be placed under the control of a competent and experienced
captive breeding establishment where the rescued eggs could be incubated
professionally. Any eggs that hatched could then be hacked into the
wild in line with DEFRA’s unpopular brood management proposals in the
south of England by experienced and trained professionals who deal with
captive bred birds of prey for a living. Terry explained the rationale
behind his controversial suggestion in this way; we know the reasons why
DEFRA would never sanction the reintroduction of fledged hen harriers
on grouse moors in the north of England, these birds would never be
welcomed by estates or their gamekeepers quickly disappearing presumed
to have been shot. All hen harrier chicks produced must each be fitted with a satellite tag before being hacked into the wild in the south of England. Now the important part according to Terry; these harriers must ALL
be tracked to establish what happens to them after fledging. If any or
all the harriers make their way back onto grouse moors in the north of
England and survive for more than eighteen months or longer, this may
establish DERFA’s plans are worth more consideration. On the other hand
if a majority of hen harriers released in the south make their way north
onto grouse moors then subsequently disappear along with their
trackers, this would clearly establish the futility of DEFRA’s brood
manipulation proposals once and for all.What ever happens to breeding hen harriers this year on England’s northern uplands, we support Terry Pickford’s suggestion. Making the best use of all hen harriers raised in captivity obtained from abandoned rescued eggs is well worth exploring in the way he has suggested. Utilising abandoned eggs rescued which then hatch and then released reduces the pressure on other dwindling hen harrier populations elsewhere.
Bowland Eagle Owls
Abandoned Eagle Owl Nest 2013 Forest of Bowland
Last year a local Bowland resident contacted Raptor Politics
informing us that last spring he had witnessed three wardens tasked with
protecting eagle owls inside Bowland visiting an occupied eagle owl
nest possibly containing eggs. We understand shortly after the visit had
been carried out the nest was known to have been deserted. For those of
you that are not aware of the scientific advice regarding eagle owl
behaviour and nest visits be aware: Eagle owl nests should on no account
be visited either prior to eggs being laid, when eggs are contained
inside a nest, or when the nest contains small chicks. Sadly this
accepted official advice is all too often disregarded in the Forest of
Bowland.
Second Abandoned Eagle Owl Nest 2013 Forest of Bowland
It seems strange that when it comes to licensed visits to all English
hen harrier nests official approval from Natural England to do so must
first be obtained, even when visiting harrier nests in Bowland. Why then
when visiting an eagle owl nest which is likely to result in the nest
being abandoned are these visits encouraged?Related Articles
Legal Loopholes being used to deter raptors from settling on moorland to breed
A fourth male hen harrier reported missing from an active nest in the northern Pennines
Natural England hen harrier satellite tracking programme results
The not so mysterious disappearance of England’s lost Hen Harriers
Raptor persecution in our modern society, a symbol of a feudal system of Raptor Management
