The RSPB announced yesterday that a female Hen Harrier (Lia), satellite-tagged in north Wales in 2017, was found dead in suspicious circumstances in mid Wales, near Tylwch, south of Llanidloes, in May this year. The results of the post mortem examination suggest that she might have been shot (although the evidence given is suggestive but by no means conclusive IMHO).
Some have leapt to the conclusion that Lia was shot on a grouse moor, possibly because the RSPB described the area as being one with a history of raptor persecution, but this area of lowland farmland is miles from the nearest grouse moor so that seems unlikely.
I suppose I could say mischievously that just as the grouse shooters say that just because a shot raptor is found dead on a grouse moor doesn’t mean that that was where it was shot, it is also the case that just because a shot raptor was found away from a grouse moor doesn’t mean that it wasn’t shot on a grouse moor – but that would be mischievous and seems highly unlikely to me.
We should remember that lots of Hen Harriers die of natural causes, on and off grouse moors I guess, and lots die of illegal persecution, on and off grouse moors I expect (although I think we know that the risk on grouse moors is particularly high). When all intensive grouse shooting disappears, as it surely will, then Hen Harriers will still die – it’s just that a great many of them will die at a ripe old age rather than like Lia, in her first year of life and long before she has contributed to the next generation.
I wonder what analysis of the NE Hen Harrier satellite-tagging data will tell us.
If anyone has any information that might help us find answers to how Lia died then please contact Dyfed Powys police on 101 quoting the reference number 47 24 04 2018 or alternatively speak to the RSPB confidentially on 0300 999 0101.
Bloody Hell that’s just six or so miles down the road. No grouse moors for at least 30 miles but lots of pheasant shoots here. Poults just out and beginning to get everywhere, our border collie just loves chasing them back across the river Severn and she is very good at it! Sadly she cannot tell the difference between long tailed vermin and our chickens so is on the lead at home.