First Bird of Prey Evidence Report Published by Yorkshire Dales Bird of Prey Partnership

First Bird of Prey Evidence Report Published by Yorkshire Dales Bird of Prey Partnership - Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

A new report has been released with information on the status of bird of prey populations and confirmed persecution incidents in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It’s the first report of its kind to be published by the Yorkshire Dales Bird of Prey Partnership, a group with a shared commitment to bird of prey conservation, and reveals one of the most successful hen harrier breeding seasons in the Yorkshire Dales since they first returned to breed in the 1960s. Seven nesting attempts fledged 26 hen harrier young, representing 43% of the recorded fledged hen harrier chicks across the north of England in 2020.

The group, comprising the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Moorland Association, Natural England, National Gamekeepers Organisation, Northern England Raptor Forum, and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), aims to produce this record of bird of prey species active in the Dales annually.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 lockdown meant some monitoring programmes weren’t possible in 2020, but many of the regularly occurring species – such as buzzard – were seen, with some encouraging sightings of goshawk and osprey observed during the year.

However, despite the best efforts of partners and a number of landowners to engage in bird of prey conservation, ten confirmed persecution incidents were recorded in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Killing birds of prey is illegal, and the group condemns raptor persecution in the strongest possible terms. Anyone with concerns about a possible wildlife crime should call 101, and anyone witnessing a suspected wildlife crime should call 999 and ask for the Police.

Publication of the report was delayed to ensure the accuracy and completeness of bird of prey persecution data collated by the RSPB and audited by the Police’s National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU).