Six days ago I updated the list of hen harriers that were confirmed to have been illegally killed or were ‘missing’, suspected killed, since 2018.
The running total had reached 48 hen harriers (see here).
Thanks to an eagle-eyed blog reader, it’s been pointed out that I’d missed one – a satellite-tagged hen harrier called Bronwyn who vanished in 2019 in an area in North Wales where two other tagged hen harriers have also ‘mysteriously disappeared’.
[Young hen harrier Bronwyn just prior to fledging in 2019. Photo by RSPB]
You can read about the strange circumstances of Bronwyn’s disappearance on this RSPB blog (here). Sorry, I’m not sure how I missed this one.
So that brings the running total of illegally killed/missing hen harriers to 49, but that’s not the end of it. There are more to add to that list.
An update will follow shortly.
Raptor Persecution UK 
This area is called “the grouse capital of North Wales” https://www.insidermedia.com/news/wales/tenant-sought-for-grouse-capital-of-north-wales
The Llandegla moors are close to this and that is another grouse shooting hotspot.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx There have been many problems with hunting in that area over the years.
Can you narrow down the area please?
[Ed: All available info is on the RSPB blog]
Heulwen – https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/3-more-satellite-tagged-hen-harriers-disappear-all-on-grouse-moors/
Aalin – https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/satellite-tagged-hen-harrier-aalin-disappears-near-ruabon-grouse-moor-north-wales/
poisoned raven – https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/05/31/raven-found-poisoned-on-ruabon-moor-the-grouse-capital-of-north-wales/
And now Bronwen.
These are the ones that we know about. How many untagged birds are killed, some suggest up to 10 times the amount. Does that mean 20 or 30 birds missing in Wales?????? Knowing the area well, and xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx it wouldn’t surprise me. I dread to think what is happening up there during lockdown!!!
How do we help put a stop to this? Can the public do anything? Especially bearing in mind the rural and distant nature of some of the worst-affected areas, e.g. North Wales and Cumbria, and many of us cannot get out there for any ‘active’ intervention or campagning.
Hi Scott,
Yes, the public can do a lot! Talk about raptor persecution crimes with family, friends and colleagues, share material on social media, write to your MP/MSP asking for action, support campaigns/petitions, read as much as you can to keep informed.
Raising awareness is a powerful tool when a lot of people do it.
There’s a wildlife trust reserve right next to this moor, perhaps that could be a good place to hold a 2021 hen harrier day, assuming that is it’s safe to hold them in the field.