Hen Harrier chicks fledge with RSPB support after suspicious loss of parents - RSPB

Chicks put at risk following suspected illegal killing of male Hen Harriers in Northern England.

Earlier this year, four breeding male Hen Harriers suspiciously disappeared from nests in northern England. Against all the odds, five healthy Hen Harrier chicks have now successfully fledged from two nests following support from RSPB staff and volunteers.

Intense persecution

Hen Harriers are one of the UK’s most intensely persecuted birds of prey and so rare that they are on the UK Red List of highest conservation concern.

In May, over a period of just eight days, four breeding male Hen Harriers suspiciously disappeared from their nests in northern England – two from RSPB Geltsdale Nature Reserve in Cumbria, and a further two from the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. It is suspected that the birds were illegally killed.

Quick response

However, a quick response by RSPB staff and volunteers has resulted in the successful fledging of five Hen Harrier chicks from two of these nests.

While two of the nests failed at incubation stage, the others had youngsters. Determined to save the chicks, RSPB staff and volunteers provided emergency supplementary food, under licence, to the females. The staff and volunteers also ensured the nests were closely monitored. Chris Hind, a volunteer at Geltsdale RSPB Reserve said:

We were incredibly hopeful that our efforts would pay off, but nothing was guaranteed. To see these birds take to the sky after weeks of tough work is fantastic but, as with all Hen Harriers in the UK, these birds face an uncertain future.”