Last month I blogged about a number of mannequins (hen harrier scarers) that had been photographed on two separate grouse moors in the Yorkshire Dales National Park this year (see here and here).
Another blog reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) has sent in a photograph of another mannequin that’s been installed on another grouse moor, this time in the Peak District National Park:
A few people have commented on the purpose of these mannequins, rejecting the hypothesis that they’ve been installed to deter breeding hen harriers, even though one mannequin just happened to have been installed on the very hill slope where hen harriers had been prospecting just a few weeks prior to the installation of that particular mannequin. Coincidence? Perhaps, but I’m unconvinced given the grouse shooting industry’s continued intolerance of this species.
It’s been argued that the mannequins in the Yorkshire Dales National Park have been installed to deter ‘seagulls’ [sic] and someone suggested to me that this latest one in the Peak District National Park has been put there to deter ravens.
Maybe. But the point is, the deterrent effect is indiscriminate. Even if they have been installed to deter another species, a prospecting hen harrier is still going to take one look and move on. Job done.
Incidentally, that mannequin in the Yorkshire Dales National Park that suddenly appeared on the very slope where hen harriers had been nest prospecting – guess what? Two hen harrier nests close by have both failed, with the reported ‘disappearance’ of one of the males. Imagine that.
UPDATE 19th June 2013: More gas guns positioned on another grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
Surely this will deter grouse from nesting as well. Crazy
Coincidence? I doubt it very much.
We all know who is responsible and why
Perfectly legal. Dry your eyes.
It’s this combination of stupidity, arrogance and entitlement that will result in a licensing system being introduced, and when that fails, as it will, the eventual banning of DGS. Hell mend them. They are on the wrong side of history.
Perfectly hypocritical and dishonest – go and troll somewhere else
Maybe, but it will drive down the breeding numbers of Hen Harriers which your grubby little sport claim, to Parliament, to be increasing on Grouse Moors… Then what will you say?
Hey Joe! Where y’ going with that gun in your hand?😃
Hopefully he’s pushed off down Mexico way!
Or, he’s goin’ off to shoot a Hen Harrier, ’cause the boss don’t like ’em on his land!
Perfectly underhand. Wipe your nose.
No you don’t
Coincidence? Somehow I don’t think so.
We all know who and why I’m sure
These mannequins are becoming so common on certain moors that their abundance demands that they be given their own name. So, just off the top of my head, I propose that all dummies which we believe have been deliberately placed to scare off hen harriers shoulld all be called “XXXXX”
What do you think?
[Ed: amusing, George, but we’ll not get away with that. His lawyers will be hammering down the door!]
[Ed: comment deleted. Nice try!]
The Shooting industry and Gamekeepers do MORE for the countryside and conservation than ANY organisation and couch critics and politicians in the whole of the UK. The countryside will revolt with anymore interference! God help us.
Why are we such a nature-depleted country, then? Why is our bio-abundance decreasing?
“The countryside will revolt with anymore interference!”
You are already revolting enough, thanks.
Heard it all before!
It was a crock of shit 40 years ago, and it still is today. You and your pals don’t speak for “the countryside” any more than you represent downtown Bogota.
You need to take your head out of the sand, your towing the line and you know it’s total bollocks.
It’s ridiculous for shooting estates to make fake, Trump like claims about these quite blatant hen harrier deterrents. It shows just how insincere their claims of concern for the conservation of raptors are.
The Peak District National Park Authority should ban these for what they are and also for the gross eyesore effect they have in designated scenic areas. Other National Park Planning Boards should do the same and also ban the noise polluting gas guns. Neither have a place in National Parks or AONB.
You do talk so rubbish. Can I suggest you try to educate yourself before blogging such rubbish.
As usual you will not post my comments because it doesn’t fit with your agenda of spreading lies and mis information.
Well they have posted it, haven’t they, Bori…sorry, Mr Farmer? So that’s rubbish from you for a kick-off
Now, be a man and post a link to published, peer-reviewed evidence that supports your claim of an “agenda of spreading lies and mis information (sic)”.
Three days, and not a peep. Once again… Q.E.D.
I’m a wild camper and genuine nature lover. If I ever see one of these I will rip it out of the ground and dispose of it correctly. Let nature take its own course for once.
I would interpret this simply as irresponsible visitors bringing rubbish into the hills for the LOLs, and would therefore be quite happy to dismantle and take away with me whatever I could carry, in order to be recycled or responsibly disposed of. You know: just like those disposable BBQs some people like to bring with them when ‘hiking in the hills’.