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| Male hen harrier - this bird was detected on the Isle of Man which is not in the licence area |
NATURAL England has unveiled its 'diversionary feeding' strategy for reducing grouse chick predation by hen harriers.
It identifies the following as foods that can be provided on suitable 'feeding perches', for instance on moorland shooting estates:
* Poultry chicks
* White rats (preferably weaner rats or young rats)
* Quail
In an advice sheet to landowners and gamekeepers, it states: "You can buy these frozen.
"Defrost the food the night before use, and prepare (for example cut open) the prey items away from the nest site to minimise disturbance.
"A one day-old poultry chick weighs 40g. A small rat weighs 160g.
"You can also use locally available food, such as rabbit and venison, cut into chunks."
NE insists:
* There must be enough food available for the duration of diversionary feeding.
* Animals killed with lead ammunition must be killed with a single shot to the head (with the head discarded), to avoid any risk of lead poisoning.
* Rodents that have, or may have, been poisoned, or found dead, must not be used to avoid the risk of secondary poisoning
* You must not give the birds live prey.
However, diversionary feeding will only be permitted by licence which neeeds to be approved by NE.
It applies only to moorland estates in the following counties:
* Derbyshire
* North Yorkshire
* South Yorkshire
* West Yorkshire
* County Durham
* Lancashire
* Cumbria
* Northumberland
The advice sheet continues:
"Diversionary feeding must only continue for a maximum of 60 days from hatching.
"Do not feed beyond this time because it could cause the young to stay close to the nest for longer than normal."
On perching points, it states:
"These must not be closer to the nest than 20m.
"Standard 5 foot x 4 inch square fence posts are suitable with a 12 inch long cross-piece nailed on top.
" You must construct these off-site, to minimise disturbance.
"You should ‘bar in’ the posts by inserting a metal bar into the ground or hammer posts into the ground.
"The installed perch must be stable, and the top of the perch should be approximately 4 feet above the ground.
"Perches must not be placed in sensitive areas. These sensitive areas are wet, and characterised by a high cover of species such as bog mosses, low growing sedges and rushes, taller sedges and cotton grasses.
"If other nesting birds are present:
* Quickly move away from any ground-nesting birds that take flight, appear agitated or call noisily on your approach.
* Establish suitable buffer zones around these nests and find an alternative perch site.
"You may install up to two feeding perches for each hen harrier nest to provide space for enough food for a full brood."
NE says: "The purpose of the licence is the conservation of hen harriers.
"It is intended to increase acceptance that hen harriers and grouse can co-exist."
Photo: Courtesy Isle of Man Government
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