Today marks one year since we started this blog. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make it such a big hit – our readers, subscribers, contributors, funders and supporters. Thanks also to those who have tried to silence us – you have made us all the more determined to continue. Here’s to year two!
Further to blog posts on 25 January and 11 February….
Nicholas Parker, head gamekeeper on the Holkham Estate in Norfolk was due in court this morning to face a number of charges relating to alleged wildlife and firearms offences carried out on the Holkham Estate. His case was originally due to have been heard on 9 February 2011, which was then postponed until 2 March 2011.
Parker has pleaded not guilty to some of the charges, and, given the seriousness of these charges, his case has now been adjourned until 1 April 2011 as it has been moved to Norwich Magistrate’s Court where his case will be heard by a more senior District Judge.
….the latest total has now increased up to 2,602 missing hen harriers in Scotland, according to the latest research!
You may recall (see blog posts 23 Jan & 19 Feb) that in the recently published Hen Harrier Framework Report, the potential hen harrier population in Scotland was estimated to be within the range of 1,505 – 1,790 breeding pairs (3,010 – 3,580 individuals). Also included in the Framework report were the results of the 2004 National Hen Harrier Survey, which found that only 633 pairs were present in Scotland – a shortfall of up to 2,314 birds. The Framework report was heavily criticised by various grouse-shooting interest groups (yawn), who were particularly upset that the Framework report had relied upon the results of the 2004 survey and not on a more up-to-date survey. Be careful what you wish for – the results of the 2010 National Hen Harrier Survey have just been analysed and guess what? The population was even lower in 2010 than it was in 2004. No surprise there then.
According to the 2010 Survey, the Scottish population has declined by another 22.7% in the space of six short years, and is now a pathetic 489 breeding pairs – this means that between 1,016 – 1,301 pairs (2,032 – 2,602 individuals) are now missing.
As today sees the final stage of the WANE Bill debate in the Scottish Parliament, you’d better hope that your MSPs recognise the cause (grouse-shooting) and effect (a continually declining hen harrier population) of this disgraceful situation and vote to accept the proposed new measures to bring to justice those who continue to illegally decimate our natural heritage. We will report on the outcome of the votes in due course.
Article on the 2010 National Hen Harrier Survey here: http://www.scottishraptorgroups.org/news.php
BBC news story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12617877
Raptor Persecution UK 