The news that hen harrier breeding numbers in England have broken a new record is cause for celebration (More than 100 hen harriers fledge in England for first time in a century, 26 August). So too are the partnerships that were created to achieve this conservation success story. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation […]
Tag: Hen Harrier
More than 100 hen harriers fledge in England for first time in a century
Nearly 120 rare hen harrier chicks have fledged in England this year, the highest number for more than a century, England’s conservation agency has said. Natural England and its partners recorded 119 hen harrier chicks successfully fledging from nests across uplands in County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire. A fledgling is a young bird […]
Why are people poisoning Britain’s sea eagles when they are such a wonderful sight?
A beautiful white-tailed eagle has once again been a familiar sight for those fortunate enough to live in the flight path of eagles recently introduced to the Isle of Wight. Thousands of Britons have witnessed and heard the gigantic two-metre wings beating overhead, as well as the cruel-beaked birds diving for fish in spectacular fashion. […]
Success for hen harrier protection plan in Northumberland
Wildlife experts have hailed a resurgence in hen harrier numbers following a successful protection plan in Northern England. The Northumberland Hen Harrier Protection Partnership has announced that 18 young have fledged from five nests on Forestry England land and two private estates this year. Northumberland continues to be a stronghold for rare hen harriers as […]
Vanished hen harriers prompt RSPB call for local community vigils
People in Cumbria are being urged to watch over a pair of hen harriers who have begun nesting on a nature reserve as police investigate the disappearance of two other of the endangered raptors. Two male hen harriers vanished from RSPB Geltsdale last week in what the police described as “suspicious circumstances”, just when both […]
Golden eagle deliberately poisoned near Balmoral estate, say police
The bird of prey was found dead on a hillside on the Invercauld Estate, in the heart of the Cairngorms, near Crathie and the Balmoral estate on March 19 after being illegally targeted with a toxic substance. Police Scotland said officers searched a number of properties on the estate on Tuesday as they continue carrying […]
Grouse moors under fire after golden eagle tag found in Scottish river
The satellite tag from a golden eagle which vanished in suspicious circumstances on a Scottish grouse moor four years ago has been found in a river, wrapped in lead sheeting. The tag was recovered earlier this year from the River Braan in Perthshire in what wildlife crime investigators believe is a breakthrough in their attempts […]
Call for grouse shooting to be licensed amid rise in bird of prey deaths
Labour has called for grouse shooting to be licensed after a big increase in illegal killings of birds of prey during the coronavirus lockdown, the majority of which, investigators say, are linked to the sport. As the grouse shooting season, known as the Glorious 12th, officially began on Wednesday, the shadow environment secretary, Luke Pollard, […]