The RSPB say:
Today, Northumbria Police and the RSPB have issued an appeal for information following the sudden disappearance of yet another satellite tagged hen harrier, a female bird known as Ada.
Ada hatched on a nest on the Scottish borders this summer (2019). She was fitted with a lightweight satellite tag as part of the RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE project, to learn more about the journeys made by these rare birds of prey and the survival challenges they face.
Ada was the first of the chicks tagged this summer to leave her nest and proved to be naturally adventurous. After fledging she flew north, spending some time on a disused golf course near Dunbar, then she headed south to the North Pennines. On the morning of 10 October 2019 she sent her last transmission from an area of grouse moor east of Allendale, Northumberland. Her tag showed no signs of malfunction and there were several satellites passing over, so it was expected to continue to provide data. RSPB staff were in the area at the time the tag would have transmitted, but neither the bird nor her tag could be found nor have been heard from since.
Her disappearance is being treated as suspicious and was reported to the police.
All birds of prey are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. To kill or injure one is a criminal offence and could result in an unlimited fine or up to six months in jail. Yet the evidence shows hen harriers continue to be killed, or disappear in suspicious circumstances, particularly on or near land managed for driven grouse shooting.
Scientific research published in March 2019 showed that 72% of the satellite tagged hen harriers in their study were killed or very likely to have been killed on British grouse moors, and that hen harriers were 10 times more likely to die or disappear over areas of grouse moor relative to other land uses.
Dr Cathleen Thomas, Senior Project Manager for the Hen Harrier LIFE project, said:
Over 30 chicks were tagged this summer and we’ve watched with interest as they’ve grown up and flown around the country. We’re absolutely gutted that Ada has disappeared in suspicious circumstances at just a few months’ old.
Emma Marsh, Director for RSPB England, said:
Hen harriers have become a rare breeding bird across the UK mainly due to illegal persecution by humans. In England, the last population survey recorded only four territorial pairs, despite scientific studies showing enough food and habitat to support over 320 pairs. Our own tagging work has shown that survival of young birds post-fledging is very low. This won’t change until something is done about illegal persecution. The Government’s own data has highlighted a loss of 72% of their tagged birds in suspicious circumstances, and we are calling on them to take vital measures to address this appalling situation.
The RSPB is calling for the Government to introduce of a system of licensing for driven grouse moors, whereby this license to operate could be taken away should illegal activity be uncovered. We believe that this approach will act as a far greater deterrent than current legislation.
If you have any information relating to this incident, call Northumbria police on 101.
If you find a wild bird of prey which you suspect has been illegally killed, contact RSPB investigations on 01767 680551 or fill in the online form.
ENDS
[registration_form]
Whilst no one could derive pleasure from these incidents, I am somewhat heartened that the repeated loss of Hen Harriers on grouse moors is able to be detected and reported, on this occasion around 6 weeks after the loss by the police and the RSPB. It is unfortunate that Natural England does not report on these incidents. Indeed, they seem to be trying to ignore the facts, except when it becomes almost inevitable.
Devastated to read this today. I was trying to count up the number of incidents this year, but you might possibly have this info at your fingertips, Mark?
Eleri – not at my fingertips – but ferwer this year than last simply because fewer birds tagged.
Here is a record I have tried top keep for the last year or so. There will be errors.
Approximately 11 birds tagged in England of 34 fledged in England in 2018
These are the subset of live birds of any age being the ones followed on Skydancer with birth location given. The ‘over 30’ birds tagged this year 2018 are not all listed on the RSPB Skydancer website. Mark Avery noted that of the birds tagged this year by the RSPB 12 had died of natural causes, and equally naturally the bodies were recovered.
2019 RSPB. Over 30 chicks were tagged this summer and we’ve watched with interest as they’ve grown up and flown around the country.
England live birds
Rain (Bowland 2018), Arthur (High Peak Moor) but likely died in October.
Scotland Live Birds
DeeCee (Perthshire 2016), Keen (Perthshire 2016), Mairie (Mull 2017), Wendy (Coulport 2016)
Ireland Live bird
Thoth (Scottish Borders 2018),
Disappeared birds
Marc 5 Feb 2018 vanished Middleton in Teesdale
Aalin 9 February 2018 vanished Ruabon moor, Wales
Soarsa 16 February 2018 vanished Angus Glens
Finn 25th March 2018 vanished Moffat
Blue 31st March 2018 vanished Longsleddale Cumbria
Lia 18th April 2018 Tylwwch, Wales (likely had been shot)
Hilma 8 August 2018 vanished Wooler 2018 Scottish Borders
Athena 16 August 2018 vanished Grantown on Spey 2018 Northumberland
Octavia 26 August 2018 vanished Broomhead, nr Sheffield 2018 Peak district
Margot 29 August 2018 vanished Lecht, Aberdeenshire 2018 Mar Lodge
Huelwen 29 August 2018 vanished Ruabon, Wales 2018 Gwynedd
Stelmaria 3 September 2018 vanished Ballater 2018 Mar Lodge
Heather 24 September 2018 vanished 2017 Perthshire
Thor 3rd October 2018 vanished Lancashire 2018 Bowland
Arthur 26 October 2018 vanished Lowna Bridge Hutton Le Hole 2018 Peak district
River 14 November 2018grouse moor Costerdale Nidderdale 2018 Bowland
Skylar 7 February 2019 vanished South lancashire. Argyll 2017
Marci 22 April 2019 vanished Strathdon. Marr Lodge 2018 bird
Vulcan January 2019 vanished ? (Northumberland 2018)
Rannoch died 10th November 2018 Discovered May 2019.Rannoch (Perthsire 2017) Forestry and Land Scotland
Ada vanished 10 October 2019 grouse moor east of Allendale, Northumberland. Scottish Borders 2919 bird.
Natural causes or undetermined
Eric 27 January 2018 Orkney bird
Harriet 17th July 2018 Marr Lodge 2017 Marr Lodge
Keen 9 October 2018 starvation 2018 Perthshire?
Nyx 16 October 2018 puncture wound to chest Bowland bird
NE birds
Missing no trace
Mabel 2 October 2018 Little Smale Gill, Ravenseat moor Yorkshire Dales bird 2018
Tom 23 October 2018 Bridgend South Wales 2018 bird
Barney xx Bodmin Moor 2018 Bird
Thank you, Alex. even grimmer reading that I expected. Would you mind if I re-posted this info on my fb page?
More criminality, how can Natural England and Mr Juniper stand by and come up with the weasel words that he does. When one looks through all this, it is the product of a very right wing government that will take no action and that supports the vested interests of driven grouse shooting. One day this will all be stopped and driven grouse shooting banned and our upland moorlands returned to their natural condition..
Meanwhile this country is shamed by this criminality.
Totally agree, Alan. The people and organisations standing by while this criminal activity goes on should feel that shame, but, like so many politicians, they have a brass neck and it washes all over them. They carry on smirking. And saying ‘let me be clear’.
I’m sure we all hope what you say in your penultimate sentence will come about.
At low moments, I just don’t see how it can.
Alan
I like weasels I think they are amazing Mammals.
I don’t like Mr Junipers words and non-action in relation to HH and DGS.
Please for the sake of weasel reputations apologise for you choice of words
Very disappointing, but I’m afraid to say not entirely unexpected. This latest incident in a long line of HH disappearances highlights graphically those responsible consider their criminal actions are above the law, believing they will never be brought to justice in a court of law. I think there exists a warped mindset in the mind of the moorland gamekeeper; these individual seem to be prepared to break the law with impunity because they are aware in the unlikely event of being brought into court, the penalties they would face currently do not represent any worthwhile deterrent; a slap on the hand, community service, a small fine with all too often important video evidence dismissed on a technicality.
The Scottish Parliament has recently approved much tougher penalties for specific wildlife crimes, which include the killing of any Schedule 1 bird of prey. Fines in Scotland have been increased dramatically from £5000 to £40,000 complimented by much longer custodial sentences of up to five years. If such penalties could be introduced in England they may begin to make an important difference to the killing of hen harriers on red grouse moors. If just one person was successfully prosecuted and sent to prison for 5 years together with the kind of fine being introduced in Scotland, this kind of detergent would certainly grab the attention of the moorland gamekeeper and his employer in way that has never happened previously in England; if only.
I agree entirely Terry. The other thing to note is when these sentences are actually brought in, not sure they have been yet, that under RIPA regulations the police can because of the more severe penalties authorise covert cameras to gather video evidence. It would also be good if these penalties applied in both England ( no chance under a Johnson govt) and Scotland to the owners or agents commissioning the crimes.
In Scotland, the owners or agents would be subject to the same sentence increase. Vicarious liability is under the same legislation. Full details are not yet available of the amendments but that is my present understanding.
Of course I was only using an expression when I used the term “weasel words” no disrespect to weasels meant or intended.
The measures taken in the Scottish Parliament to increase penalties for certain wildlife crimes is very pleasing and a ray of hope in an otherwise very depressing situation in England.
Do you have more details on this Scottish Parliament legislation Mark?