There's an article on owls predating other raptors (and vice versa) in 'BB' [URL="http://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V69/V69_N04/V69_N04_P144_154_A030.pdf"[/URL] It doesn't actually list Hen Harrier amongst the raptors taken by Eagle Owl, but clearly they could easily do so and probably do.
However, even if Eagle Owls (raised from the dead Lazarus-like) were eating English Hen Harriers then one would expect females, sitting tight on the nest, to be more, rather than less, vulnerable than the males. This would apply equally to predation by foxes (which some apologists claim are responsible). Besides, if fox predation were such a problem for Hen Harriers one might expect them to be concentrated on heavily 'keepered estates rather than singularly absent from them. If it was disturbance by the 'watchers' (another favourite claim by the shooting camp) then this would more likely involve females disappearing and take place before young had hatched. It would also require an organisation, the RSPB, with a proven track record in protecting rare birds to have an uncharacteristic and near simultaneous multiple failure in its well established methodology. As has already been established for a male to suddenly desert a nest is extremely unlikely and for five to do so akin to being struck by lightning with that winning lottery ticket in your pocket just as you find Britain's first Black Woodpecker! The only viable explanation for multiple males to selectively go missing just as they range further afield to feed nestlings is that they have been deliberately targeted by human agents. Add to this the well established animus against birds of prey in general (and this species in particular) amongst a significant number of gamekeepers/shooting interests (cf calls for protection to be lifted, applications for licences to destroy protected birds, displays of 'vermin' inc. raptors at game fairs, a catalog of court cases, acknowledged 'traditions', etc) removes little doubt that deliberate persecution is the most likely reason for recent events. The only reason for not accepting this overwhelming probability is either ignorance or self interest. So which is it 'bgr'?
