Hen harrier
8 November 2010
The hen harrier is one of our most spectacular birds of prey, the smart grey body and black wing-tips distinguishing the male from the more camouflaged female. Each spring the males indulge in an acrobatic tumbling display flight over their remote moorland breeding haunts. During the winter, some birds disperse to lower ground where they hunt over saltmarsh, downland, heathland and less intensively managed areas of farmland.
Hen harrier © Richard Saunders
Latin name: Circus cyaneus
Population numbers:
Although once found nesting in a variety of open habitats throughout upland and lowland Britain, a combination of persecution and habitat loss resulted in the species’ disappearance from mainland Britain by the end of the 19th century. Recolonisation started around the time of the Second World War, from surviving populations on the Orkney Islands and Western Isles. Hen harrier numbers have gradually recovered to an estimated peak of 806 territorial pairs in the UK and Isle of Man in 2004 (Scotland 633, Northern Ireland 63, England 11, Wales 43, Isle of Man 57). Illegal persecution continues to limit further recovery and large areas of suitable habitat remain unoccupied.
Where to see and when:
The majority of breeding hen harriers can be found in the highlands and islands of Scotland. Perhaps the best chance to view breeding hen harriers can be found on the Orkney Islands, Hebridean islands such as Mull and North Uist and the Isle of Man. Hen harriers are probably easiest to see outside the breeding season when they are social and congregate at favoured winter roost sites in the lowlands, particularly in coastal areas.
What’s being done:
As its name implies the hen harrier will predate gamebirds which causes conflict with managers of grouse moors. Nest protection has been regularly attempted with varying degrees of success. A project at Langholm in Scotland seeks to demonstrate the compatibility of grouse moor management with a hen harrier population. A dialogue project facilitated by the Environment Council seeks to develop a jointly agreed solution which will enable hen harriers to increase whilst allowing the driven shooting of red grouse to continue.
More information:
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Native plants, fungi and animals we featured each week for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.
