Next week, on Saturday 25 June, whether we have voted Brexit or Remain, there will be a Hen Harrier rally to mark this year’s virtual absence of nesting Hen Harriers from the English uplands.
Full details will appear here and elsewhere next Wednesday but we have now been told by the organisers that it will be in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Watch this space.
Golly! It must be a terrible year for voles – again!
Speaking of voles, a perfectly politely worded comment I made beneath the GWCT ‘Where have the vols gone?’ article has not been posted. It’s hardly an indication of their confidence in their case if they will only publish supportive comments.
Jonathan – they aren’t confident at all – they are very rattled. Unable to find someone to appear at the Bird Fair??
Interesting you’ve gone for the Dales – what about the Moors which seem to get off very lightly. Maybe that is because they have managed to ensure there have been no successful HH almost for ever, whereas the Dales, Bowland and the Peak District still have had some to persecute.
Roderick – bit of a toss-up, I agree! Recent events with pole traps may have swung it to this side of the A1, and the Dales are more easily accessible from Bowland, Cumbria etc. But the problem is that there are so many wildlife crime hot-spots in our National Parks and AONBs that one is spoiled for choice!
The loss of voles at Langholm this season does not appear to have any adverse influence on hen harriers there, so far 7 pairs with young I am told.
So definitely more than the whole of England then, as I think Martin would have used different wording.
I just hope some English keepers, having none left to eradicate, don’t go on holiday there.