Further to the news on Friday that a previously unreported 20 hen harriers had ‘disappeared’ on English grouse moors between April 2022 and April 2023, in addition to another one whose mutilated corpse was found on a grouse moor (see here and here), I’ve now had the time to go through the latest list of reported victims and work out which ones had not previously been included on my running tally of dead/missing hen harriers since 2018.
You may recall (although admittedly, it is hard to keep up), just two weeks ago I reported that the running tally was 82 dead/missing hen harriers since 2018. I can now report the current total is 92.
Here’s the blog I always write after every reported killing or suspicious disappearance…
For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of hen harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue of crime that suggests otherwise.
“They disappear in the same way political dissidents in authoritarian dictatorships have disappeared” (Stephen Barlow, 22 January 2021).
Today the list has been updated to include the most recently reported victims, 10 young hen harriers (0f 20) that ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances between April 2022 – April 2023, almost all of them on or close to grouse moors in northern England (see here).
I’ve been compiling this list only since 2018 because that is the year that the grouse shooting industry ‘leaders’ would have us believe that the criminal persecution of hen harriers had stopped and that these birds were being welcomed back on to the UK’s grouse moors (see here).
This assertion was made shortly before the publication of a devastating new scientific paper that demonstrated that 72% of satellite-tagged hen harriers were confirmed or considered likely to have been illegally killed, and this was ten times more likely to occur over areas of land managed for grouse shooting relative to other land uses (see here).
2018 was also the year that Natural England issued a licence to begin a hen harrier brood meddling trial on grouse moors in northern England. For new blog readers, hen harrier brood meddling is a conservation sham sanctioned by DEFRA as part of its ludicrous ‘Hen Harrier Action Plan‘ and carried out by Natural England (NE), in cahoots with the very industry responsible for the species’ catastrophic decline in England. For more background see here.
Brood meddling has been described as a sort of ‘gentleman’s agreement’ by commentator Stephen Welch:
“I don’t get it, I thought the idea of that scheme was some kind of trade off – a gentleman’s agreement that the birds would be left in peace if they were moved from grouse moors at a certain density. It seems that one party is not keeping their side of the bargain“.
With at least 92 hen harriers gone since 2018, there is no question that the grouse shooting industry is simply taking the piss. Meanwhile, Natural England pretends that ‘partnership working’ is the way to go and DEFRA Ministers remain silent.
‘Partnership working’ according to Natural England appears to include authorising the removal of hen harrier chicks from a grouse moor already under investigation by the police for suspected raptor persecution (here) and accepting a £75k ‘donation’ from representatives of the grouse shooting industry that prevents Natural England from criticising them or the sham brood meddling trial (see here). This is in addition to a £10k ‘donation’ that Natural England accepted, under the same terms, in 2021 (here).
So here’s the latest gruesome list. Note that the majority of these birds (but not all) were fitted with satellite tags. How many more [untagged] harriers have been killed?
February 2018: Hen harrier Saorsa ‘disappeared’ in the Angus Glens in Scotland (here). The Scottish Gamekeepers Association later published wholly inaccurate information claiming the bird had been re-sighted. The RSPB dismissed this as “completely false” (here).
5 February 2018: Hen harrier Marc ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Durham (here).
9 February 2018: Hen harrier Aalin ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Wales (here).
March 2018: Hen harrier Blue ‘disappeared’ in the Lake District National Park (here).
March 2018: Hen harrier Finn ‘disappeared’ near Moffat in Scotland (here).
18 April 2018: Hen harrier Lia ‘disappeared’ in Wales and her corpse was retrieved in a field in May 2018. Cause of death was unconfirmed but police treating death as suspicious (here).
8 August 2018: Hen harrier Hilma ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Northumberland (here).
16 August 2018: Hen harrier Athena ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Scotland (here).
26 August 2018: Hen Harrier Octavia ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Peak District National Park (here).
29 August 2018: Hen harrier Margot ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Scotland (here).
29 August 2018: Hen Harrier Heulwen ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Wales (here).
3 September 2018: Hen harrier Stelmaria ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Scotland (here).
24 September 2018: Hen harrier Heather ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Scotland (here).
2 October 2018: Hen harrier Mabel ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
3 October 2018: Hen Harrier Thor ‘disappeared’ next to a grouse moor in Bowland, Lanacashire (here).
23 October 2018: Hen harrier Tom ‘disappeared’ in South Wales (here).
26 October 2018: Hen harrier Arthur ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the North York Moors National Park (here).
1 November 2018: Hen harrier Barney ‘disappeared’ on Bodmin Moor (here).
10 November 2018: Hen harrier Rannoch ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Scotland (here). Her corpse was found nearby in May 2019 – she’d been killed in an illegally-set spring trap (here).
14 November 2018: Hen harrier River ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Nidderdale AONB (here). Her corpse was found nearby in April 2019 – she’d been illegally shot (here).
16 January 2019: Hen harrier Vulcan ‘disappeared’ in Wiltshire close to Natural England’s proposed reintroduction site (here).
7 February 2019: Hen harrier Skylar ‘disappeared’ next to a grouse moor in South Lanarkshire (here).
22 April 2019: Hen harrier Marci ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Cairngorms National Park (here).
26 April 2019: Hen harrier Rain ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Nairnshire (here).
11 May 2019: An untagged male hen harrier was caught in an illegally-set trap next to his nest on a grouse moor in South Lanarkshire. He didn’t survive (here).
7 June 2019: An untagged hen harrier was found dead on a grouse moor in Scotland. A post mortem stated the bird had died as a result of ‘penetrating trauma’ injuries and that this bird had previously been shot (here).
5 September 2019: Wildland Hen Harrier 1 ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor nr Dalnaspidal on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park (here).
11 September 2019: Hen harrier Romario ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Cairngorms National Park (here).
14 September 2019: Hen harrier (Brood meddled in 2019, #183704) ‘disappeared’ in the North Pennines (here).
23 September 2019: Hen harrier (Brood meddled in 2019, #55149) ‘disappeared’ in North Pennines (here).
24 September 2019: Wildland Hen Harrier 2 ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor at Invercauld in the Cairngorms National Park (here).
24 September 2019: Hen harrier Bronwyn ‘disappeared’ near a grouse moor in North Wales (here).
10 October 2019: Hen harrier Ada ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the North Pennines AONB (here).
12 October 2019: Hen harrier Thistle ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Sutherland (here).
18 October 2019: Member of the public reports the witnessed shooting of an untagged male hen harrier on White Syke Hill in North Yorkshire (here).
November 2019: Hen harrier Mary found illegally poisoned on a pheasant shoot in Ireland (here).
14 December 2019: Hen harrier Oscar ‘disappeared’ in Eskdalemuir, south Scotland (here).
January 2020: Members of the public report the witnessed shooting of a male hen harrier on Threshfield Moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
23 March 2020: Hen harrier Rosie ‘disappeared’ at an undisclosed roost site in Northumberland (here).
1 April 2020: Hen harrier (Brood meddled in 2019, #183703) ‘disappeared’ in unnamed location, tag intermittent (here).
5 April 2020: Hen harrier Hoolie ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Cairngorms National Park (here)
8 April 2020: Hen harrier Marlin ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Cairngorms National Park (here).
19 May 2020: Hen harrier Fingal ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Lowther Hills, Scotland (here).
21 May 2020: Hen harrier (Brood meddled in 2019, #183701) ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Cumbria shortly after returning from wintering in France (here).
27 May 2020: Hen harrier Silver ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor on Leadhills Estate, Scotland (here).
2020: day/month unknown: Unnamed male hen harrier breeding on RSPB Geltsdale Reserve, Cumbria ‘disappeared’ while away hunting (here).
9 July 2020: Unnamed female hen harrier (#201118) ‘disappeared’ from an undisclosed site in Northumberland (here).
25 July 2020: Hen harrier Harriet ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
14 August 2020: Hen harrier Solo ‘disappeared’ in confidential nest area in Lancashire (here).
7 September 2020: Hen harrier Dryad ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
16 September 2020: Hen harrier Fortune ‘disappeared’ from an undisclosed roost site in Northumberland (here).
19 September 2020: Hen harrier Harold ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
20 September 2020: Hen harrier (Brood meddled in 2020, #55152) ‘disappeared’ next to a grouse moor in North Yorkshire (here).
24 February 2021: Hen harrier Tarras ‘disappeared’ next to a grouse moor in Northumberland (here)
12th April 2021: Hen harrier Yarrow ‘disappeared’ near Stockton, County Durham (here).
18 May 2021: Adult male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from its breeding attempt on RSPB Geltsdale Reserve, Cumbria whilst away hunting (here).
18 May 2021: Another adult male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from its breeding attempt on RSPB Geltsdale Reserve, Cumbria whilst away hunting (here).
24 July 2021: Hen harrier Asta ‘disappeared’ at a ‘confidential site’ in the North Pennines (here). We learned 18 months later that her wings had been ripped off so her tag could be fitted to a crow in an attempt to cover up her death (here).
14th August 2021: Hen harrier Josephine ‘disappeared’ at a ‘confidential site’ in Northumberland (here).
17 September 2021: Hen harrier Reiver ‘disappeared’ in a grouse moor dominated region of Northumberland (here)
24 September 2021: Hen harrier (Brood meddled in 2021, R2-F-1-21) ‘disappeared’ in Northumberland (here).
15 November 2021: Hen harrier (brood meddled in 2020, #R2-F1-20) ‘disappeared’ at the edge of a grouse moor on Arkengarthdale Estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
19 November 2021: Hen harrier Val ‘disappeared’ in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria (here).
19 November 2021: Hen harrier Percy ‘disappeared’ in Lothian, Scotland (here).
12 December 2021: Hen harrier Jasmine ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor (High Rigg Moor on the Middlesmoor Estate) in the Nidderdale AONB in North Yorkshire (here).
9 January 2022: Hen harrier Ethel ‘disappeared’ in Northumberland (here).
26 January 2022: Hen harrier Amelia ‘disappeared’ in Bowland (here).
10 February 2022: An unnamed satellite-tagged hen harrier ‘disappeared’ in a grouse moor dominated area of the Peak District National Park (here). One year later it was revealed that the satellite tag/harness of this young male called ‘Anu’ had been deliberately cut off (see here).
12 April 2022: Hen harrier ‘Free’ (Tag ID 201121) ‘disappeared’ at a ‘confidential site’ in Cumbria (here). It later emerged he hadn’t disappeared, but his mutilated corpse was found on moorland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A post mortem revealed the cause of death was having his head twisted and pulled off. One leg had also been torn off whilst he was still alive (here).
April 2022: Hen harrier ‘Pegasus’ (tagged by the RSPB) ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor at Birkdale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
May 2022: A male breeding hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from a National Trust-owned grouse moor in the Peak District National Park (here).
May 2022: Another breeding male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from a National Trust-owned grouse moor in the Peak District National Park (here).
14 May 2022: Hen harrier ‘Harvey’ (Tag ID 213844) ‘disappeared’ from a ‘confidential site’ in the North Pennines (here).
20 June 2022: Hen harrier chick #1 stamped to death in nest on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
20 June 2022: Hen harrier chick #2 stamped to death in nest on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
20 June 2022: Hen harrier chick #3 stamped to death in nest on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
20 June 2022: Hen harrier chick #4 stamped to death in nest on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
17 August 2022: Hen harrier (brood meddled in 2022, #R1-M1-22) ‘disappeared’ on moorland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
September 2022: Hen harrier ‘Sullis’ (tagged by the RSPB) ‘disappeared’ on a grouse moor in Cumbria (here).
5 October 2022: Hen harrier (brood meddled in 2022, #R3-M2-22) ‘disappeared’ on moorland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
10 October 2022: Hen harrier ‘Sia’ ‘disappeared’ near Hamsterley Forest in the North Pennines (here).
October 2022: Hen harrier (brood meddled in 2021, #R1-F1-21) ‘disappeared’ in the North Sea off the North York Moors National Park (here).
1 December 2022: Hen harrier male (brood meddled in 2021, #R1-M1-21) ‘disappeared’ on moorland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
14 December 2022: Hen harrier female (brood meddled in 2022, #R3-F1-22) ‘disappeared’ on moorland in the North Pennines AONB (here).
15 December 2022: Hen harrier female (brood meddled in 2022, #R2-F1-22) ‘disappeared’ on moorland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here).
March 2023: Unnamed male hen harrier (tagged by Natural England – details not yet released) ‘disappeared’ in North Yorkshire (here).
April 2023: Unnamed female hen harrier (tagged by Natural England – details not yet released) ‘disappeared’ in North Yorkshire (here).
April 2023: Hen harrier ‘Lagertha’ (tagged by RSPB) ‘disappeared’ in North Yorkshire (here).
April 2023: Hen harrier ‘Nicola’ (Tag ID 234078) ”disappeared’ in North Yorkshire (here).
April 2023: Untagged male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from an active nest on RSPB Geltsdale Reserve in Cumbria (here).
April 2023: Another untagged male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from an active nest on RSPB Geltsdale Reserve in Cumbria (here).
April 2023: Untagged male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ from an active nest in Durham (see here).
To be continued……..
Not one of these 92 incidents has resulted in an arrest, let alone a prosecution. I had thought that when we reached 30 dead/missing hen harriers then the authorities might pretend to be interested and at least say a few words about this national scandal. We’ve now reached NINETY TWO hen harriers, and still Govt ministers remain silent. They appear not to give a monkey’s. And yes, there are other things going on in the world, as always. That is not reason enough to ignore this blatant, brazen and systematic destruction of a supposedly protected species, being undertaken to satisfy the greed and bloodlust of a minority of society
Raptor Persecution UK 
Thanks (if that’s the right word) Ruth for again reminding us of this disgusting stain on our broken uplands and country.
You can bet your bottom dollar that if someone was out there stamping on, or twisting the heads off of live pheasants there’s be more of an outcry within the shooting-for-fun ‘industry’ and their Government patsies.
Just heartbreaking to see this can’t say any more
Many thanks for keeping this listing updated. At least these murdered birds will be remembered in some sort of way. The birds that do not make their way on the list because they were not tagged or found will be remembered by some of us until the day comes that the killing stops.
Time for this to be escalated to the v top. Is it possible to use the government’s petitions process and get 100,000 signatures for a debate in Parliament. I bet lots of people would sign it.
It’s v distressing to hear about this carnage
Been done, Rachel. They don’t give a monkey’s.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-31/debates/06472E95-10EC-49A0-BF93-84CAD2BE4191/DrivenGrouseShooting
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-21/debates/7654E8FA-2E19-4E39-985E-DD8DB066B065/GrouseShooting
“Time for this to be escalated to the v top. Is it possible to use the government’s petitions process and get 100,000 signatures for a debate in Parliament. I bet lots of people would sign it.”
So… why didn’t you support at least the most recent such petition, just over a year ago?
[Ed: if you continue to leave abusive comments you’ll be banned. Final warning]
It’s very obvious what’s happening!
Nothing will happen under the shambolic, anti-nature, failing English Government – the need is to prepare the ground for rapid action for when the political wind changes – which it always does. We need ‘oven ready’ proposals for regulation/legislation asap. In the meantime be under no illusion that the spectre of extinction as a breeding bird in England still hovers over the Hen Harrier.
Why isn’t game shooting banned elsewhere, such as in Wales?
Thanks again Ruth for taking on the, unfortunate and dispiriting, job of compiling and revising this list. I’ve been thinking how many extra Hen Harriers we would have had flying round if just this number of birds had been allowed to live. It’s often said England’s moorland could sustain 300 pairs without persecution and the young from these birds would have made a big contribution to that total…
Given the feudal, class ridden society in the UK (but more especially England) the minority of the population who engage in blood sports hold a huge amount of power and influence. They have abused the majority of the population in one way, or another. They abuse animals and get pleasure from killing them, plus inflicting horrendous cruelty too.
My view is that there is no hope in this country. The events surrounding the coronation this weekend demonstrate the masses are fooled and fail to see through the pantomime. Those who do dare to challenge it are arrested, yet have not committed a crime. It is a fascist state and has much in common with China. Dissent is not tolerated. What chance do our precious raptors have in this climate?
I agree that there is a group of powerful people with vested interests which seem capable of manipulating the democratic process. However, this country is neither a fascist or feudal state, and I think you will find our liberal democratic parliamentary system is completely different from what takes place in China.
We have a press who are free to publish and express opinions which criticize the government and state institutions.
You are able to express your thoughts on this blog free from fear of state persecution or a knock on the door in the middle of the night.
Whilst you might not like the monarchy, there are an awful lot of the population who support what the monarchy does for this country and the commonwealth, and would be aggrieved at your comments regarding the coronation.
Whilst the right to peaceful protest should always be respected. Why should a small minority whose only intent was to disrupt proceedings and prevent thousands of others enjoying the event be permitted to succeed?
I suspect policing the event and keeping everyone safe from potential terrorist incidents or disorder was difficult enough, without thoughtless individuals spooking any of the hundreds of horses involved, which could have then thrown their riders, bolted and endangered the bystanders?
Raptor persecution is an issue which needs to be solved, and whilst game shooting has traditionally been associated with the landed aristocracy, I suspect that a simplified explanation for the current persecution is the commercialization of game shooting, with an emphasis on shooting estates producing ever bigger bag sizes and ever more shoot days, something which cannot be achieved without some small minded groups within the industry resorting to criminal behaviour.
Money changes hands at all levels, whether it is tips for the beaters or keepers, or the much larger sums required to pay for a days shooting or manage estates.
Whenever money is involved in human endeavors- criminal and immoral behavior usually rears its ugly head. Hence, the need to properly regulate this industry, as has happened with most other commercial enterprises.
We need to be mindful that what we write will be read by both those who support changes to how grouse moors are managed, and by those who vehemently oppose this- it is a difficult enough battle trying to implement change without giving ammunition to those who oppose any reform of how game shooting is currently conducted by having them think that those who support raptor conservation verge on extreme radical politics.
I strongly believe that the end of raptor persecution will only come when the “hearts and minds” of the vast majority of law abiding game shooters also want change, so that there is no place for criminals within the industry.
We have a press that is free to publish what their billionaire owners allow them to. It is pretty clear where their priorities lie when just about the only media outlet to publicise these crimes is the Grauniad – and that is only intermittent.
“Given the feudal, class ridden society in the UK (but more especially England) …”
Wrong. The BBC claim that Scotland has the most unequal land ownership in the western world.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47963208
“More than half of Scotland is owned by fewer that 500 people (0.01%)”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/10/scotland-land-rights
Whereas, in England, half the land is owned by 25,000 ‘entities’ (some are corporations) (0.045%) – Guy Shrubsole (2019).
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/apr/17/who-owns-england-thousand-secret-landowners-author?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WhatsApp
You talk a load of shite my friend
I don’t think you are a friend, at all. Or know what shite sounds like, either.
We are no different to any other country when it comes to killing , take France, Malta, Italy, USA, Cypress, Egypt, India, at least we dont net and eat swallows and shoot song birds
That doesn’t absolve criminals of responsibility, the police & judiciary of their job to investigate, prosecute and punish.
And these are only the ones we know about. I’d bet that doubling that figure would probably be nearer the mark.
Our current prime minister’s constituency is in North Yorkshire where many of these incidents have occurred. Although he will have other matters on his mind at present, I believe that a concentrated campaign addressed directly at him, as the person ultimately responsible for law and order issues, should at least ensure that the criminality involved here is highlighted at the top level.
There’s one thing which puzzles me. The mutilated bird was not shot and presumably wasn’t poisoned either – so how did they manage to get their hands on it? I doubt that we will ever know.
[Ed: my money would be on an illegally-set spring trap]
“There’s one thing which puzzles me. The mutilated bird was not shot and presumably wasn’t poisoned either – so how did they manage to get their hands on it? I doubt that we will ever know.”
I think the clue is in the fact that its leg was torn off:-( There was a reason for that.
The channel 4 news should have stated the number 92 Hen harriers that had gone missing or been illegally killed was as high.
Errr…. which Channel 4 News? I see no mention of Channel 4 News. And, “as high” as what?
I thought there was a piece on channel 4 news about Hen Harriers, sorry and ‘as high’ as what they are.
Ah, yes, there was. It is/was mentioned in a different (later) thread.
Thanks for the acknowledgement.
A big thank you for highlighting just how corrupt the game industry, and the parties employed to protect birds of prey are.
With the best interests at heart, and a willingness to see the blatant disregard for the law fixed, I don’t see an end to the killings.
While people are still allowed to shoot game birds for fun, birds of prey will remain very clearly in their sights.
What we need is a body to be formed, who’s only job is to protect birds of prey, and have absolute power over all instances of bird persecution, including those committed by shooting estates, and their employees, and of course guests.
Any cases near or on grouse moors, or shooting estates should have an impact on them, like removal of licensing, temporary, or permanent depending on how many incidents.
This would give them an incentive to actively contribute to protecting the birds of prey, I also don’t agree that anyone should be above the law, if guilty, they should be punished, regardless of what their profession is, or if they own the land.
A robust law, and a very hard standing against the crimes, it is definitely not rocket science, just a simple case of money talking, and dictating the outcome of any cases that actually make it to court, it is now time for action, and time to put an end to birds if prey being murdered, if these people murdered a human would they get off Scott free?, perhaps sometimes they do, but it should not happen, and all birds of prey have a protected status, which should be mandatory, if they can not track down the individual, then take the estate to task, hold the estates accountable for these actions, after all most of these incidents are on or near shooting grounds, this is not a coincidence, not with 92 hen harrier killed in less than 5 years.
Again there is one very large elephant in the room, it is practically impossible, unless you are blind to mistake a grouse for a bird of prey, with that said these birds are still being killed, some shot, some have been snared, some poisoned, and some have been stamped on while still in the nests, these are all deliberate acts of killing, you don’t accidentally poison a bird of prey, you don’t accidentally snare a bird of prey, and you certainly don’t accidentally shoot a bird of prey, these birds are in no way similar to game birds, they are all easy to identify, and are all protected by law, sadly the law is just not up to the job at hand, either that is because of back handers, cash bribes, or fear of getting in trouble with landowners, or members of Parliament, so many cases over the last couple of years have been interrupted, or squashed by members of Parliament , or the cases have been seen at court, and a simple slap on the wrist has been issued, by that I mean the absolute minimum punishment given.
It is time the full force of the law was implemented, long jail terms, heavy fines, and of course taking the estates to task as well, either by instruction, or agreement the estates know what is going on, and that has go to stop.
Any game bird industry worker, owner, or partner will be fully aware of the laws, and the crimes which take place on and around them, so make them part of the crime, remove their licence, cause them some disruption, this might make them take responsibility, and will give them the incentive to act responsibly, I personally don’t care one bit for the profitability of game bird killing, it holds no interest for me, and I would not have any problem with it being banned, I know people will use the argument of they employ many people, and they bring much needed money into the area, so does a coffee shop, so do market’s, but that does not make it right for them to keep killing indiscriminately, and without thought or care for the birds of prey, and on that note the only money they bring to the area goes straight into their banks, it will not help the locals,or the farmers, or schoolchildren, it just feeds the banks of the game industry.
The employees could work other jobs, if we banned all shooting, then they would have to farm the land instead, some could be employed as farm hands.
Tagged and tracked birds of prey leave a footprint of their travells, and when these people without morals fit the tags to other birds after killing the bird of prey, this just proves intent, and proves they are fully aware of their actions, this was not an accident, I wonder how many times this has been done without being discovered?.
I am fairly sure that when I was discussing the tags to a chap who makes them, and installs them, I asked a question, a simple question which he answered within a second, his answer was it has not happened yet, my question was how many times do the tags go wrong, or fail, his response told me everything I needed to know.
They only stop working when he battery is depleted, but the tags drop off before that happens, this helps them locate the tracker, and recover it, all the tags he has lost have been under situations that are not explainable, they either suddenly stop transmission, or go stationary for a few days and then dissappear, and when the signal just stops it is because the battery has been damaged, or removed, or the tag has been destroyed, in all these cases it will be because a human has intervened, he could prove this by simply showing the construction process, and how robust these things are, they will withstand a drop from above 10,000feet, and are fully waterproof, and can take the weight of a car driving over them, this leaves no explanation as to why the tags have stopped working, or have just disappeared, apart from human activity.
Let’s all stand against the persecution of birds, including the game birds who don’t have a say in their poor life cycle, born to be murdered effectively, a lucky few escape, only to be hunted down, by grown men with dogs, and guns.
And I will say anyone who could strangely, or stamp on a bird of prey obviously has issues, and is probably a danger to everyone, if they can do this callous crime, what else are the capable of? All murderers start somewhere, is this how they practice a lack of empathy, or learn to have no emotion?, the poor defenceless chick’s in a nest being slaughtered to protect game birds, and for what reason except fun for the rich, there is no merit to the game industry, or the killing of game birds bread to be released so they can shoot them for fun.
The birds of prey are just another casualty in the shooting game, and it has become so big it is an industry, an industry with friends in high places, who carry get out of jail free cards for the employees, and landowners. It has got to stop know and permanently.
Why are there no hen harriers on all the rest of the nature reserves and why is it that they are attracted to grouse moors?why do you point the finger at shooting when without it hen harriers would be extinct in england.who shoots them on rspb reserves as they never nest there.if you ban shooting you will definitely lose hen harriers.it doesn’t take a scientist to work that out. Good luck.
It doesn’t take a scientist to work out that your comment (as ever) is a complete fabrication!
Hi Skylark
Watch the Channel 4 video which features a volunteer on RSPB Geltsdale watching one of their nests of harriers.
Without people like that giving up their time and energy to provide a constant and conspicuous deterrent against ****** (I’ll save the blog editor the XXXX’s) the nests on that reserve are up against it regards persecution and parent birds are regularly killed too.
I would invite you or anyone with a genuine interest to research that locality and it’s history – maps in hand. It’s a great illustrative case study for the whole subject of raptor persecution.
Draw your own conclusions in your own time and report back.
https://www.channel4.com/news/illegal-killing-causes-three-quarters-of-deaths-of-adult-protected-hen-harriers-report-finds
“Why are there no hen harriers on all the rest of the nature reserves”
Not true. There are plenty of Hen Harriers on non-shooting reserves, but only where there is the habitat (moorland) and sufficient small prey for them, such as Orkney.
“why is it that they are attracted to grouse moors?”
Because the shooting industry artificially breed very high densities of Red Grouse in moorland, whose chicks provide lots of food for them.
“why do you point the finger at shooting when without it hen harriers would be extinct in england”
Errr… no. If you lot stop shooting them, there would be more Hen Harriers, wouldn’t there? In England, Hen Harriers breed in the Forest of Bowland.
“who shoots them on rspb reserves as they never nest there”
No one shoots them on RSPB reserves. Hen Harriers nest on the RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve on Islay, which has heather moorland and lots of small mammal prey.
“if you ban shooting you will definitely lose hen harriers.”
Errr… no. If you lot stop shooting them there would be more Hen Harriers, wouldn’t there? Hen Harriers aren’t dying en masse from natural causes, they are being illegally shot, trapped and poisoned by your lot on grouse moors.
“it doesn’t take a scientist to work that out”
I’ve just worked it out for you.
Time the guilty parties were dealt with there are a few tribes that need investigating the Gamekeepers i would not trust most ofbthem as far as i could throw them the actual shoot owners the other bunch that may have a twisted sense of loyalty is the beaters and estate workers .y answer would be close the shoots down. Remove ALL Firearms and include things like catapults slingshots anything