‘Our studies of the movements of satellite tagged birds are continuing, as they are yielding much useful information on the movements, habitat use, and ecology of Hen Harriers. But they are also raising questions about their ultimate fate. We have, for instance, been looking into the disappearance of six Hen Harriers at an autumn roost…
Category: Grouse and harriers
An imperfect storm?
It’s been a ghastly day weather-wise but I have been thinking about the storm that is coming together around raptor persecution. I thought hard about it – it put a smile on my face. No, raptor persecution isn’t as important as climate change, or flooding, or even, to my mind, farmland bird declines – but…
Readers’ survey – should grouse shooting be banned in England?
You think it should be… … and even 45% of those who say they would be Tory voters if there were a general election tomorrow agree with a ban. [Click here, here, here and here for other results from this survey]
Grouse moor licensing
Four weeks today we will know how many signatures have been attached to John Armitage’s e-petition on licensing of grouse moors (a policy supported by the RSPB). In the last 10 days the e-petition has really picked up speed – it’s amazing what a deadline does, isn’t it? It now stands at over 8350 signatures…
Actions speak louder than words
Have you seen the RSPB’s latest Birdcrime publication which came out in December? It’s beautifully produced and has a lot of sense in it. Here are some quotes from Martin Harper’s introduction. ‘Persecution is so common and widespread that it is the most important factor limiting populations of some treasured and iconic species,including hen harriers,…