According to a new survey, the population of hen harriers in England has experienced a significant growth, rising from four pairs in 2016 to 50 pairs last year.
The Hen Harrier Survey reveals that the UK’s rarest birds of prey are currently present in Northumberland, the North Pennines, Lancashire, and the Yorkshire Dales.
The survey is carried out every seven years by the RSPB and other organisations.
According to the RSPB, the findings provide “reason for hope”, although the primary danger to the species continues to be “unlawful hunting”. Hen harriers, renowned for their impressive aerial abilities, have historically faced endangerment due to the management practices employed on grouse moors.
Although voles and meadow pipits are their primary prey, they also consume grouse chicks.
In 2013, there were no Hen Harriers nesting in England. However, the survey reveals that there are now more Hen Harriers than at any time since they disappeared as a breeding species approximately 200 years ago.
Nevertheless, the RSPB reports that the current population of the species in England is merely 15% of the capacity that the available suitable habitat can sustain. In January, Natural England reported ongoing occurrences of hen harrier disappearances.
In 2023, a combined total of 32 birds that were fitted with satellite tags either disappeared or were definitively identified as having been unlawfully killed in England.
According to Mike Shurmer, the leader of species management for RSPB England, there has been a notable rise in the number of hen harriers breeding in England since the previous survey. However, it is important to note that the initial population was extremely low, and it is crucial that we address the issue of illegal persecution.
“The distribution of these birds is currently sparse, and we aim to have a significant increase in their population, with several hundred pairs inhabiting all upland regions of England.”
Upland areas such as the Peak District or the North York Moors do not have any breeding pairs.
Julian Hughes, Head of Species for RSPB Cymru said:
The amazing display of Hen Harriers in springtime is a sign of a healthy moorland. It is encouraging that numbers have increased in Wales as part of their long-term recovery, but tragic that so many are killed across the UK each year. Restoring the Welsh uplands, for a suite of precious wildlife, as well as benefitting society by storing water and carbon to tackle the climate emergency, must be a key outcome for Welsh Government policy, and it’s vital too that the police investigate crimes that threaten our raptor populations”.
