Mike Price
Well-known member
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/hen_harrier_report221208_tcm6-9451.pdf
The statistics make stark reading:
Between 2002-2008, the comparatively tiny area of Bowland in Lancashire accounted for over two thirds of all the 127 hen harrier breeding attempts recorded by Natural England as part of its intensive monitoring programme. Throughout the rest of England, only 19 breeding attempts were recorded on grouse moors, in spite of the suitability of the habitat.
Natural England's report shows that, outside of Bowland, persecution is the reason for the systematic disruption of hen harrier breeding attempts in areas that provide extensive and very suitable habitat and would otherwise support healthy hen harrier populations.
With the exception of the Bowland Fells grouse moors nesting attempts on grouse moors elsewhere were more than twice as likely to fail In areas managed for red grouse, only 26% of nests produced fledged chicks, compared with landholdings in the Bowland Fells where 65% of nests were successful.
Of the 72 successful nests where hen harriers produced fledglings during the last seven years, 50 were in Bowland.
The persecution continues for the small number of birds that do actually fledge from successful nests. There is further compelling evidence that this persecution continues during the winter at communal roosts.
Using tracking technology, Natural England has been collecting evidence that shows many birds are simply disappearing off the map. Over a 12 month period, six birds fitted with satellite transmitters have been tracked from the Bowland Fells into parts of the North Pennines managed principally as driven grouse moors, and have not been recorded subsequently. In another incident in one confined geographical area, three signals "went dead" between 2007-2008.
The statistics make stark reading:
Between 2002-2008, the comparatively tiny area of Bowland in Lancashire accounted for over two thirds of all the 127 hen harrier breeding attempts recorded by Natural England as part of its intensive monitoring programme. Throughout the rest of England, only 19 breeding attempts were recorded on grouse moors, in spite of the suitability of the habitat.
Natural England's report shows that, outside of Bowland, persecution is the reason for the systematic disruption of hen harrier breeding attempts in areas that provide extensive and very suitable habitat and would otherwise support healthy hen harrier populations.
With the exception of the Bowland Fells grouse moors nesting attempts on grouse moors elsewhere were more than twice as likely to fail In areas managed for red grouse, only 26% of nests produced fledged chicks, compared with landholdings in the Bowland Fells where 65% of nests were successful.
Of the 72 successful nests where hen harriers produced fledglings during the last seven years, 50 were in Bowland.
The persecution continues for the small number of birds that do actually fledge from successful nests. There is further compelling evidence that this persecution continues during the winter at communal roosts.
Using tracking technology, Natural England has been collecting evidence that shows many birds are simply disappearing off the map. Over a 12 month period, six birds fitted with satellite transmitters have been tracked from the Bowland Fells into parts of the North Pennines managed principally as driven grouse moors, and have not been recorded subsequently. In another incident in one confined geographical area, three signals "went dead" between 2007-2008.
