This is a slightly odd one!
Countryfile magazine has one of those readers’ votes running on subjects such as ‘Nature reserve of the year’, and ‘Pub of the year’ which includes ‘Conservation success of the year’. Now you wouldn’t necessarily expect a species whose English population should be over 300 pairs, but was actually 12 nesting attempts (from which a handful of males went ‘missing’) to be in the list, but it is!
So you can give the story of the Hen Harrier a boost by voting for it here.
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I’ve just voted for Hen Harrier on BBC Countryfile Magazine. It was a difficult choice, because I was tempted to others… (they are Chris Packham’s nominations, and all worthy), but I think of the species listed they most need the attention they’ll get if they win, and anyway raised awareness of the issues around Hen Harriers means raised awareness around the causes of flooding – an issue brought closer to many people’s hearts in the last few weeks, if not before.
It is an odd mixture of things on the short-list. I am not sure why the Holly Blue is on there since we know its population is characterised by big swings up and down and 2014’s successful year will doubtless be followed within a short period of time by a year in which the population is back down again. For the Hen Harrier it seems premature to describe the situation as a success. It is of course encouraging that there is heightened interest in the fortunes of this bird and widespread outrage at the reasons for its low population but if we vote for this as the wildlife success of the year do we risk encouraging politicians to think all is well and no change is required in the uplands?
I am tempted (but still undecided and open to persuasion) to cast my vote for the Solway Barnacle Geese which I think are a more clear cut success.
What a bizarre list…who has made this list up?! Not sure they have done their homework first! Hen harrier voted for of course…anything to raise awareness further….
Apparently, Chris Packham made up the list. I suspect he may have done his homework.
I do agree with Jonathan Wallace’s comment about possible adverse effects of HH being voted ‘wildlife success of the year’, but on balance, think the raised awareness opportunity should not be missed. BBC Countryfile magazine has, I understand, a wider ranging audience than a more single-minded conservation focussed publication.
Awareness raising, maybe not a tangible conservation outcome but definitely a ‘success’ in terms of profile & ‘issue’ raising and a great amount of it down to Mark, Chris, Iolo, BAWC et. al.
Nothing to stop it going on next years list? Conservation topic or problem might be another topic to offer? Upland management, lead in the foodchain, all sorts of potential spin offs?