That's fantastic, chaps! Natural England chairman Tony Juniper praises landowners as hen harrier numbers rise

Hen harrier chicks - what future after they leave the nest?

THE chairman of Natural England, Tony Juniper, has hailed the news that 141 hen harrier chicks have fledged in England this year - the seventh year in a row that numbers have increased.

Says he: "The continuing year-on-year increase in the number of hen harriers fledging from English nests is fantastic to see.

"It shows how, through partnership work, it is possible to reverse Nature’s decline even in the most challenging of circumstances. 

"This is testament to the volunteers, landowners and partner organisations who have worked so hard to support and monitor these birds."

                                            

Tony Juniper - breeding delight tempered by persecution concerns

There are now thought to be more hen harriers in England than at any time over the past 200 years.

In 2023, 54 nests were recorded (up from 49 last year), of which 36 were successful (34 last year). 

This represents an average of 3.9 chicks per successful nest. 

Northumberland had the highest number of nesting attempts, 17 in total and the highest increase on the year before where 9 nests were recorded. 

The Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale area also remained a stronghold with 15 nests recorded in 2023.

The fledglings recorded this year includes 24 'brood-managed' chicks - birds taken from six nests on grouse moors and reared to fledging in captivity. 

The brood management programme is controversial. Critics claim it represents appeasement of grouse moor owners, many of whom regard raptors as grouse-eating vermin.

But Natural England describes it thus: "It is an  experiment to see if removing hen harrier chicks from grouse moors for rearing in captivity for later release reduces conflict with game shooting and reduces persecution sufficiently to allow populations to recover. 

"Natural England is committed to a full scientific investigation of this technique and the brood management trial has recently been extended."

Despite his exultation at the apparent progress, Mr Juniper acknowledges that challenges remain.

He continues: "Despite all the good practice among many landowners illegal persecution still stubbornly persists. 

"We know that much more needs to be done to protect these precious birds and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners to stamp out the despicable killing of these wonderful creatures that bring so much joy to so many people. 

"We will continue to work hard, improving monitoring and conservation management to achieve long term recovery."

The landowners and partner organisations praised by Mr Juniper have not been named - nor those sites where illegal persecution is though "stubbornly to  persist". 

More about Natural England's £875,000 hen harrier action plan is at :

Increasing hen harrier populations in England: action plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)