Hen harrier chicks have been fitted with high-tech
satellite tags as part of a new RSPB initiative to help conserve Englands
most threatened bird of prey.
The chicks, which are approximately four weeks old, are
currently being raised in a nest on the United Utilities Bowland Estate.
The site is traditionally the stronghold for the English hen harrier
and the RSPB
has worked with the water company and its shooting
tenants to protect the birds there for more than 30 years.
The hen harrier nest is the first successful one in
England since 2012 and one of only three in the whole of England this year. Chicks produced in the other English nests one of which is also on the United Utilities Bowland Estate will also be fitted with satellite tags when they are large enough.The satellite tags were supplied by Natural England and
fitted by Stephen Murphy, the Agency s lead adviser for hen
harriers. He said: The
lightweight satellite tags weigh just 9.5 grams and are solar recharging, giving an operational life of at least
three years. These are fitted to birds on the point of fledge using a
lightweight Teflon harness back-pack design. This is where technology
can really aid conservation as there is no better way of gaining an insight into the complex dispersal of these iconic birds.
Jude Lane is the RSPB s Bowland Project Officer and is
responsible for monitoring the hen harriers. She said: Once the birds have fledged, we will be able to follow them and gain valuable information
about where
they hunt, roost and, with a bit of luck, breed. The more
we can learn about these amazing birds, the more we can do to help
their numbers recover.
The tags will also help provide evidence of any illegal
activity against the birds. A 2011 government-commissioned report
revealed that there should be at least 300 pairs of hen harriers across
the uplands
of England but that illegal ongoing persecution was
limiting their numbers.
In 2012, a dead hen harrier that had been tagged in
Bowland was discovered in North Yorkshire as a result of tracking
work undertaken by Natural England. Post mortem analysis carried out by
the Zoological
Society of London revealed that the bird nicknamed Bowland Betty - had been shot.
Jude continued: I
was absolutely gutted when I heard about Betty. I really hope that these tagged chicks don t meet a similar
fate and that they live a long and productive life.
The RSPB s hen harrier monitoring work in Bowland forms
part of Skydancer, a four-year RSPB project aimed at protecting
and conserving nesting hen harriers in the English uplands. The project
is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (with a grant of 317,700) and United Utilities, with additional support from the Forestry
Commission.
Skydancer has reached the finals of this year s National
Lottery Awards in the Best Education Category. To vote for the project
visit:
www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/education
On Sunday August 10 - two days ahead of the opening of
the grouse shooting season - hundreds of people will be taking part
in a series of events across the English uplands to raise awareness of
the plight of the hen harrier.
For more information about the project, visit
Copy links http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/07/02/hen-harrier-protest-day-forest-of-bowland-10-august/
http://markavery.info/2014/06/23/hen-harrier-day-peak-district-10-august-2014/
http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/
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