Today Henry visited a National Nature Reserve.
It’s part of a very well-known estate.
This site should be perfect for Hen Harriers.
But it isn’t.
Find out why later this week….
Author: RaptorPersecutionUK
Chough-ing hell
An article appeared in the Scotsman the other day (see here) written by someone called Katrina Candy, Head of PR at GWCT (Scotland).
It was all about the apparent benefits of corvid ‘control’ (the words ‘trapping’ and ‘killing’ aren’t great words to use when your job is Head of Public Relations for an organisation that promotes game-shooting as a wildlife-friendly pastime).
It would seem that Ms Candy hasn’t read the latest research on the impact of corvids on other bird populations – see here for a good overview.
Her article was further discredited by the choice of illustration – none other than a chough, a highly protected species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act. Let’s hope the error was made by a picture editor at the Scotsman and not by the Head of PR for GWCT (Scotland).
The article also mentioned a current ‘study’ being undertaken by GWCT and SASA, ‘to investigate how corvid traps are used under the current General Licence system in Scotland’. This ‘study’ involves asking trap-users (mostly gamekeepers) to keep records of what they’ve caught. These records (which of course are going to be unbiased and 100% truthful) will be analysed against data collected from trail cameras set at crow traps for ‘short periods of time’.
The proposed use of the trail cameras has apparently caused “some concerns” amongst members of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association. GWCT and SASA have had to reassure participants that the cameras will only be set with the trap-user’s permission and the footage will not be used “for policing trap-users” (see here).
Can’t imagine what they’re worried about.
It’ll be interesting to see the results.
Henry’s Tour: Day 12
Henry orders a Carbofuran-free mippit omelette with a side order of voles. He’s feeding up because he’s on his way to the badlands and doesn’t know when he’ll next find a safe meal.
After dinner his minders are taking him to the Pictures to see this new release from the Haltwhistle Film Project.
Muirkirk hen harrier: shot and killed at nest site
Last June we blogged about the death of an adult female hen harrier near Muirkirk, south west Scotland. Her corpse had been found in May 2014 on moorland close to a nest containing two young hen harrier chicks (see here). At the time, Police Scotland refused to reveal the cause of death. A statement from Detective Inspector Graham Duncan of Kilmarnock CID went as follows:
“Whilst at this time we cannot divulge how the bird was killed, we do believe it was the result of a criminal act and we need to establish why this has happened“.
Quite an astonishing statement if you’re aware of the 30+ years of hen harrier persecution in this supposed Hen Harrier Special Protection Area (e.g. see here).
We didn’t hear anything else from Police Scotland about this ‘investigation’.
Eight months later in February 2015 we blogged about this case again (see here) when SASA published a report on persecution cases in 2014. Here’s what the report said about this particular crime:
“Cause of death withheld due to specialist knowledge“.
Now 11 months after the bird was killed, we finally find out the cause of death. She’d been shot. We only know this because the information was released as part of the Government’s raptor persecution crime maps, published 10 days ago (see here).
Wonder if/when SNH is going to place a General Licence restriction order on this moorland? Although SNH’s track record for implementing restrictions hasn’t been very impressive to date (e.g. see here).
Langholm hen harrier ‘Annie’ is down
One of last year’s young hen harriers from Langholm is missing in action.
‘Annie’ was satellite-tagged on Langholm Moor last summer, along with a young male called Sid.
Sid ‘disappeared’ a few months later in North Yorkshire in September 2014 (see here).
Annie ‘disappeared’ a few weeks ago in March. The last signal from her sat tag showed she was in an area of South Lanarkshire. Hmm.
Photo of Annie from the Making the Most of Moorlands Project.
Henry’s Tour: day 11
Henry visited Stonehenge to consult the Druids.
He asked where he might find a girlfriend.
The Druids told him that although their prophecies are legendary, even they couldn’t answer that one.
Henry’s Tour: Day 10
Henry is visiting Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Owned by the Ministry of Defence, this is an important winter roost site for Hen Harriers.
Despite the shells and mortar bombs, this site is safer for Hen Harriers than on driven grouse moors. Says it all, really.
Henry was escorted by his friends Michael Groves (a volunteer with the South Wiltshire Owl & Raptor Nest Box Project) and Nick Adams (Wiltshire Raptor Group).
Henry’s Tour: Day 9
Henry’s still not found a girlfriend so he calls the RSPB’s Hen Harrier Hotline (0845-4600121) for tips on where he might find one.
#HaveYouSeenHenry
Case against Scottish gamekeeper William Dick: another trial update
The trial of Scottish gamekeeper William Dick has been continued at Dumfries Sheriff Court.
Dick, 24, of Whitehill Cottages, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries is accused of bludgeoning and repeatedly stamping on a buzzard. The offences are alleged to have taken place in Sunnybrae, Dumfries in April 2014. He is also accused of alleged firearms offences. He has denied the charges.
The trial has been adjourned, again, and will now apparently resume in August! We don’t know the reason for the long delay.
Previous blogs on this case here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
Henry’s Tour: Day 8
Most of the people Henry met in the Upper Derwent Valley had never even heard of a hen harrier, let alone the dire straits they’re in thanks to the criminal actions of some grouse moor owners and their gamekeepers.
They have now!
#HaveYouSeenHenry
Raptor Persecution UK 