BEST BREEDING YEAR FOR HEN HARRIERS SINCE 1960s SAYS NATURAL ENGLAND

Singing for their supper - hen harrier chicks at a secret nesting site

THIS has been the best year for hen harrier breeding in England since the 1960s according to Natural England.

Some 84 chicks have fledged from nests across uplands in County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

This is the fifth successive year of increases following a low in 2016 when only eight chicks fledged.

Hen harriers were once found in abundance across upland and lowland Britain including throughout many English counties.

However, after 1830 it became an exceptionally rare breeding species as a result of to persecution. It remains one of England’s rarest breeding birds of prey.

Says Dave Slater, Director for Wildlife Licensing and Enforcement Cases at Natural England: "It is wonderful that these striking birds have seen another lift in their breeding numbers this year. 

"It is thanks to all those involved - volunteers, landowners and staff from all our partner organisations who have worked so hard to protect, encourage and monitor these vulnerable birds.

"However, the stark reality is that illegal persecution is still rife and, sadly, too many birds still go missing in unexplained circumstances.

"In recent years, tagging has increased our knowledge of their ecology and movements. 

"Despite this year’s success, hen harriers are critically endangered in England and there is a long way to go, if we are to achieve a permanent recovery."

This year has also seen the first successful year of breeding for brood-managed birds. Of the eight chicks raised in captivity in 2020 and re-released, six survived their first winter, and four of these birds went on to breed successfully.

A wide range of organisations have come together to work in partnership to ensure that the hen harrier chicks are well looked after and protected for the future.

These include: Natural England, RSPB, Forestry Commission, the Moorland Association, United Utilities, the National Trust, Hawk and Owl Trust, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Northumberland National Park Authority, Peak District National Park Authority, Nidderdale & Forest of Bowland Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, local police forces, individual estates and their keepers, farmers and a large number of volunteer raptor enthusiasts.