Yesterday I blogged about eight satellite-tagged hen harriers that have gone ‘missing’ / been killed this year since Natural England’s last update in May 2023; eight birds that Natural England somehow forgot to mention in its annual round up of the season (see here).
Today there’s another one to add to the list – a young bird called ‘Harmonia’ who was tagged as a chick this year by the RSPB on United Utilities-owned land in the Forest of Bowland AONB.
According to an RSPB blog published yesterday (here), Harmonia vanished in the Yorkshire Dales National Park at some point between June and September 2023, along with two other young female hen harriers that had also been tagged in Bowland this year (Hapit & Selena, whose suspicious disappearances were reported by the RSPB last month – here).
The RSPB hasn’t revealed any more detail about Harmonia’s suspicious disappearance at the moment, presumably because this incident is being investigated (or not!) by North Yorkshire Police, but the Yorkshire Dales National Park has long been recognised as a hotspot for the illegal killing of birds of prey (e.g. here) and an awful lot of satellite-tagged hen harriers seem to vanish there. By my reckoning at least 19 have ‘disappeared’ there since 2018, although this figure is the bare minimum – there are likely to be more but Natural England /North Yorkshire Police have withheld location details in many cases.
Harmonia brings the total number of ‘missing’/killed hen harriers (that are known about) to 21 this year, which is the equal highest number since brood meddling began in 2018. The grand total of ‘missing’/killed hen harriers since brood meddling began in 2018 is now 110 birds, and of those, 23 were brood meddled birds.
Earlier this year Natural England shamefully extended the brood meddling licence for a further two years (here), claiming that there was insufficient evidence to test whether attitudes within the grouse shooting industry had changed for the better towards hen harriers.
I’d argue that there are 110 pieces of evidence to demonstrate that attitudes have not changed for the better – indeed, I know of several more ‘missing’/dead hen harriers still to be reported in the public domain, which will take this year’s total well past 21 dead/missing birds, the highest level of persecution since the licence to brood meddle was issued in 2018.
I’ll add Harmonia and the eight other ‘missing’/killed hen harriers to the rolling list of victims, which last month stood at 101 ‘missing/killed birds and is now at 110.
How many more??
Raptor Persecution UK 
Relentless. Natural England are a disgrace – not fit for purpose.
From what I understand, the majority of these missing Hen Harriers have gone missing over a particular area managed predominantly by one large shooting estate.
I understand that this is a remote area, which doesn’t receive the visitor numbers which the more popular areas get.
In such small communities as found in the Dales, I would think most of those involved in grouse moor management know each other and regularly communicate.
This raises the question as to whether the disappearance of these Hen Harriers is being orchestrated, so that any criminal activities take place in areas where the crimes will be least detected, whilst the other grouse moors more frequented by the public, are managed to create a semblance of lawfulness?
Such activity would of course benefit all the estates, as it will mean few if any Hen Harriers in the Dales.
If this is the case, then such activity is totally unacceptable, especially within a National Park.
If there is a crime wave happening over one or two particular moors, then since these moors are no doubt open access land, then one has to question, why North Yorkshire Police aren’t getting officers out on the ground to disrupt and deter what is taking place.
“If this is the case, then such activity is totally unacceptable…”
Surely, it is unacceptable even if it was not the case?
“why North Yorkshire Police aren’t getting officers out on the ground to disrupt and deter what is taking place”
Because it is too big, and the crimes too random, to be practical.
Perhaps I didn’t express myself particularly well. Yes, it is totally unacceptable, but even more so in a national park.
You seem to fail to understand the point. Any police activity would be to deter and disrupt crime from taking place, rather than an attempt to try and be present and gain direct evidence when individual crimes is being committed. As you point out, that would be incredibly difficult, and probably too resource intensive.
But why is it so difficult for the police to target the area where these suspected crimes are occurring?
Data from the satellite tags should give an indication of where the Hen Harriers congregate and roost, or where they are going missing.
According to satellite imagery there is only one road running through upper Swaledale, and only a handful of dwellings.
The police have access to modern technology, such as drones and ANPR, as well other surveillance equipment.
Raptor persecution is a national wildlife crime priority, so one would expect all available technology and resources to be deployed to tackle it, especially when it involves Hen Harriers.
Since this is not targeted surveillance towards a particular suspect, then it is also doubtful RIPA legislation would be apply.
So it shouldn’t be too difficult to implement a crime disruption strategy which makes those committing these crimes aware of an increased police presence, and that continuing to engage in criminal activity is likely to result in getting caught.
From my understanding of the law, there is nothing to stop the police conducting random roadside stop checks, which might help identify persons moving about in upper Swaledale, and whether they were carrying firearms or other items which might be used to commit raptor persecution crimes.
This is would be no different from strategies used to target burglars or drug dealers, and perhaps even easier as the low population density in upper Swaledale should make it easier to identify just who is moving about.
The oceans are vast, yet the authorities are often successful in intercepting small boats carrying drugs or illegal migrants.
If organisations such as the Hunt Sabs, LACS, or the RSPB investigation team can successfully film individuals carrying out wildlife crimes and gather evidence on wildlife criminals, even in very remote locations, then why can’t the police engage in crime reduction tactics in similar locations?
My suspicion is that the police probably do not see a missing satellite tagged Hen Harrier as a crime and therefore seem to lack the willingness or creativity to do what is necessary.
I don’t for one minute think the police are in league with the criminals, but I do think that when it comes to wildlife crime they sometimes lack in initiative and “out of the box thinking”.
I went on a guided walk in the late 90s to the Peak District National Park, led by one of the park rangers. He pointed out a shooting cabin then declared they bring money to the area. Think the whole group was stunned. Think that says it all really
Name and shame natural england and police who won’t look into it they can’t be bothered to investigate most things get of your butt and protect these poor raptors instead of scoffing grouse for your lunch name and shame the estate on where they went missing
There is a channel four programme tonight at 9pm called Is it time to break the law? by Chris Packham. Without even watching it, my answer to that is a definite yes. We have tried years of talking, we have tried Walks for Wildlife, we have tried Hen harriers days. Umpteen blogs and books later we are no further on. Where do we go next?
Peaceful, non violent protest is now illegal as witnessed by yesterdays decision to prosecute a retired care worker simply for holding a placard up outside the law courts. Climate activists are no longer allowed to mention mitigating circumstances in front of a jury.
The laws that are protecting the bastards that kill our wildlife and destroy our countryside are made by the one percent for the one percent.
What is left for the 99% to show their opposition? You can’t oppose, it’s illegal.
If you are reasonable they take advantage. If you are reasonable that take you as weak. If you are reasonable they will shit on you.
Benny Goodman knew what worked, Pankhurst knew what worked. XR, Just stop Oil and Insulate Britain know what works. They can’t bang us all up.
Do we want a future for our children or not? Do we want them to see wildlife and have clean rivers or not?
If the answer is yes but we have tried everything and failed, what is left?
Their laws are rotten, protecting the few and their ill gotten gains.
Time for a rethink!
[Ed: comment deleted. If you want to make abusive comments about Chris Packham you’ll find plenty of other opportunities elsewhere]
Well said. I’ll be watching
The right to roam was secured by people breaking the law, time to follow the example of Benny Rothman and the trespassers?
I agree totally if this is the only way we can stop this persecution
If I remember correctly, the issue of raptor persecution was ignored in the programme.
“Just stop Oil and Insulate Britain know what works”
I believe that public opinion says otherwise. Stunts regularly causing thousands of vehicles to emit more greenhouse gases rather defeats their argument.
I’m heartened by a more militant stance being contemplated by those who are now reaching an understanding that this is systematic, criminal behaviour enabled by a clique oif very powerful individuals at, or near to, the top of our social system and spans various, supposedly, independant bodies and organisations. I would theorise that their shadowy interventions has effectively stymied the committed and long term struggle that ornithologists and their champions have invested in trying to stop these criminal acts.
i agree with the sentiments of Paul.
Continuously working and co-operating with a compromised system that no longer functions in the manner it was designed to do and looks to many as if it is a core component of maintaining this criminality as opposed to bringing it to an end, seems foolish.
I understand the difficulties involved with ending the co-operation with these organisation and Government bodies but, unless, something like this is contemplated then those charged with being a part of the solution then become a part of the problem by providing information and services that works against that goal. Sacrifice would be required on the part of those so compromised and whether their commitment was strong enough to righting the wrong would be sorely tested. Without their input the system could not continue to malfunction in the manner it does and, just as importantly, the names of the suspect organisations could no longer be associated with those sincerely working towards putting an end to it. As it stands those not totally committed to the cause see PR projected associating those causing the problem with them trying to develop a solution. This is a major part of the problem as people beleive that everyone is working in harmony seeking an answer.
The gloves must come off if real progress is to be made.
Civil action may be the way to go if this criminality continues (as it undoubtedly will!) and the authorities fail to do anything about it. The Yorkshire Dales has just published its draft Nature Recovery Plan and hen harriers are a schedule 1 species requiring a bespoke conservation plan. This could be its last chance to prove it can make a difference but I see no shooting groups were involved in drawing it up so I expect to see many howls of protest if the necessary plans are drawn up. Read it here https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/nature-recovery-plan-published/
Another summer has passed and yet again like all the other summers satellite tagged Hen Harriers and lots of other birds of prey have been blasted out of the skies by gamekeepers to protect battery bred grouse. Harmonia was killed over a not so public piece of Uu land [Ed: Harmonia went ‘missing’ in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – the exact location has not yet been publicised] so this killing would have been kept away from the public eye. Please Please Please will this barbaric sport ever be stopped and these gracious birds be left in peace. The poor people who fend for these chick’s and look after then till the fledge must think to themselves is it worth it!!!!!
[Ed: comment deleted. Same reason as last time]
Get a life Mr Hammond. The vast majority of decent folk are laughing at you
I suspect that the average flatworm learns at a faster rate than Mr Hammond.
Yet another predictable death, mind you that makes it no less horrible and angering. We need to start seriously naming and shaming and to do that we need precise grid refs or the estate named by NE. Frankly how long do the police “need” to keep some sites confidential because it strikes me as a ploy that protects the guilty. Whilst doing that of course a pattern will emerge as to which estates suffer regular and repeat “disappearances” although of course it certainly doesn’t tell us who the culprit(s) were. Some estates of course are proud of the fact that they and their employees don’t break the law, yet I’m sure in the relatively enclosed world of grouse shooting they know who most of the offending estates and folk are yet keep their mouths well shut. Making them to my mind just as guilty as if they or theirs had shot the harriers themselves. These crimes thrive on anonymity and I’m sure most in DGS hate this blog for doing what it does ( and so well) but just think how they would feel especially the criminals involved if we started to name estates, their owners or managers although of course we could not accuse them just say this is where harrier X disappeared. We need more militancy even if its just pointing Hunt sabs in the right directions.
Then again we have been saying for a long time that the end of DGS is nigh, hopefully under a new government perhaps that will be true or we will go down the licence route. Whatever it is it is long past time the criminal majority in DGS were outed and their pals in high places named and shamed.
Well said everyone you’ve covered it all completely with your excellent views comments and passion and hopefully one day the good will out do the bad and evil amongst us. We need a new government and a proper criminal justice system also a better job at policing these places and people estates and finally ban grouse shooting and hunting. League against cruel sports use drones to gain footage maybe this is the way forward!
8 billion humans on a planet that can only sustain 3 billion tops, says it all!. Breaking laws of any kind is wrong. Bring in birth control( 60 million in england is hardly nature friendly ), and give more space to our wildlife. Strengthen all laws at all levels!, going green is pointless unless we become less!
Well said John, I totally agree.
“8 billion humans on a planet that can only sustain 3 billion tops, says it all!.”
I agree wholeheartedly, but…
“Breaking laws of any kind is wrong.”
…I don’t agree with that. Some laws are bad. History tells us that some bad laws require confrontation before they are changed: it is the way a bad law is tackled which the general public take into account.
I’ve been walking in Gunnerside four times, following the Beck up to the old lead mines and beyond. On all four occasions I’ve not seen any birds of prey, not even a kestrel. Plenty of rabbits for other birds of prey though. On my last visit I counted approximately 120 dead rabbits, most of these were young ones, very bizarre. Last week I went to the North Yorkshire Moors for three nights, saw one buzzard. I live in East Yorkshire surrounded by farmland, plenty of pesticides, and other chemicals being sprayed. Just yesterday I saw 3 buzzards, 2 kestrels and one sparrowhawk. Something is not right in these so called national parks where shooting snobs and gamekeepers operate.
They wont stop until they have wiped the species out they know exactly what there doing happening everywhere for the proportion of game they take which is only nature .The landowners ,gamekeepers ,and authorities know it’s happening and they need to put a stop to it but end of the day money talks