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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pratincol" data-source="post: 3227087" data-attributes="member: 65801">A copy of my message on the Birds and Birding forumMore depressing news[Westmoreland Gazette today] THE RSPB and Cumbria Police have launched an investigation after the unexplained disappearance of a nesting male hen harrier in the North Pennines.  The bird, which was nesting at the RSPB’s Geltsdale reserve, was last seen at the upland site on May 23. He set off hunting at around 7.15am and was last observed by RSPB nest protection staff at around 1pm.  Without the male returning to provide her with food, the female was forced to abandon her clutch of five eggs, resulting in the failure of the nest.  By the time RSPB staff were sure that the female had abandoned her nest, and that it was safe to approach it, her eggs had already gone cold and were no longer viable.  A 2008 government commissioned report found that it was rare in most places for male hen harriers to abandon an active nest (note).  Hen harriers are England’s most threatened breeding bird of prey with only four successful nests in the whole country last year.  Police are also calling for information after three male nesting hen harriers disappeared earlier in the season without explanation in Bowland, Lancashire.  Steve Garnett, upland warden at RSPB Geltsdale, said: “All of the staff and volunteers who were watching the nest around the clock over the past few weeks are absolutely gutted about the disappearance of the male and the failure of the eggs.” Cumbria Police Wildlife Crime Officer Sarah Rolland said: “There is no criminal investigation surrounding the disappearance of the male bird at the current time. However, we appeal to anyone with information to come forward by calling Police on 101, as we are keen to trace the whereabouts of the bird.” . .Anyone with information about either of the missing birds should contact the police on 101 or the RSPB’s confidential hotline on 0845 466 3636</blockquote>

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