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Hen harriers 'face extinction' in England as nests fail Hen harriers 'face extinction' in England as nests fail
(about 5 hours later)
Hen harriers are close to extinction in England after the country's only two nesting pairs failed to breed, conservationists have said.Hen harriers are close to extinction in England after the country's only two nesting pairs failed to breed, conservationists have said.
The RSPB said it was the first time the species had not produced a chick in England since the 1960s.The RSPB said it was the first time the species had not produced a chick in England since the 1960s.
The two pairs tried to nest in the north of England, and the RSPB called their failure a "huge setback". They tried to nest in Northumberland and County Durham, and the RSPB called their failure a "huge setback".
It said numbers of hen harriers, which prey on grouse, were being kept down by grouse moor managers.It said numbers of hen harriers, which prey on grouse, were being kept down by grouse moor managers.
Hen harriers once lived across the UK but became extinct in mainland Britain in about 1900 due to persecution, the RSPB said.Hen harriers once lived across the UK but became extinct in mainland Britain in about 1900 due to persecution, the RSPB said.
A decline in persecution and changes in land use allowed them to spread back from populations in Scottish islands and the birds reached England again after World War II.A decline in persecution and changes in land use allowed them to spread back from populations in Scottish islands and the birds reached England again after World War II.
But RSPB conservation director Martin Harper said the fact hen harriers, which he described as "one of our most charismatic birds of prey", killed grouse had put them back in danger.But RSPB conservation director Martin Harper said the fact hen harriers, which he described as "one of our most charismatic birds of prey", killed grouse had put them back in danger.
"Managers on some intensively managed shooting estates have been attempting to remove this bird since it recolonised," he said."Managers on some intensively managed shooting estates have been attempting to remove this bird since it recolonised," he said.
'Continue to fight''Continue to fight'
"The latest news is a huge setback and only a victory for those who want to see this bird of prey disappear from England's skies, but we will continue to fight to ensure that this bird has a future in some of our most iconic landscapes.""The latest news is a huge setback and only a victory for those who want to see this bird of prey disappear from England's skies, but we will continue to fight to ensure that this bird has a future in some of our most iconic landscapes."
A study by government scientists suggested England's upland areas could support more than 300 pairs of hen harriers, but illegal persecution through shooting, trapping and disturbing nests was keeping numbers low.A study by government scientists suggested England's upland areas could support more than 300 pairs of hen harriers, but illegal persecution through shooting, trapping and disturbing nests was keeping numbers low.
Research by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) found that controlling predators like foxes and crows to protect red grouse on moorland helped birds of prey, including hen harriers.Research by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) found that controlling predators like foxes and crows to protect red grouse on moorland helped birds of prey, including hen harriers.
But increasing hen harrier numbers meant they took more grouse, which could make grouse moor estates economically unviable, the GWCT said.But increasing hen harrier numbers meant they took more grouse, which could make grouse moor estates economically unviable, the GWCT said.
The RSPB backs a plan to provide alternative food sources for hen harriers so they can co-exist alongside managed grouse moors.The RSPB backs a plan to provide alternative food sources for hen harriers so they can co-exist alongside managed grouse moors.
The two hen harrier nesting sites in England this year were monitored and the eggs did not hatch at one. It is not known why the other failed.The two hen harrier nesting sites in England this year were monitored and the eggs did not hatch at one. It is not known why the other failed.