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Disappointing Hen Harrier season on the Isle of Skye & Scottish Hen Harrier Seminar

My breeding study for Hen Harriers commenced in 2000 and since 2005 has concentrated in north central Skye where the population has averaged between 8-12 pairs.  In 2011 we enjoyed relatively high productivity and a pair bred for the first time in Lochalsh.  It was therefore extremely disappointing that only 5 pairs could be found this year, a pattern which was unfortunately shared by other raptor workers. 
 
 
 
Despite significant investment by Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage, and by the RSPB, there were no birds at Bowland in the north of England, and only one pair at the Langholm project.  Apparently there were only two pairs in the whole of the south of Scotland which includes several SPA’s (Special Protection Areas). 

Winter survival was clearly a major problem and weather may well have been a factor.  Hen Harriers have always been widely persecuted and another theory is that sporting interests are systematically targeting the species at winter roost sites. 

Of the five pairs which bred in Skye, one pair failed on eggs though the reason was not established.  Two pairs failed at the chick stage with fox predation being identified by the use of nest site cameras.  The one bonus was that the remaining two pairs fledged three  and five young successfully.  Despite it not being a good vole year, there was clearly other prey availability no doubt helped by our protracted spell of good weather.  My sincere thanks to everyone who has sent in records.

Bob McMillan

Scottish Hen Harrier Seminar September 2012

We would like to inform our readers that a Hen Harrier seminar, titled “The Future of the Hen Harrier in Scotland” will be held in September, and hosted by the Watson Bird Centre in Dalry, Dumfries & Galloway. The date of this important seminar is Saturday 22 September 2012:

Itinerary

13.00-14.00hr – Lunch at Lochinvar Hotel / Clachan Inn

14.00hr – A History of Hen Harriers in the South of Scotland (Chris Rollie, RSPB)

14.20hr – Hen Harriers in Orkney – A Success Story (Erik Meek, RSPB)

15.00hr – Hen Harriers and Grouse on Langholm: Managing a Special Challenge (Aly McCluskie, Langholm Moor Demonstration Project)

15.30hr – Tea / Coffee

16.00hr – Hen Harrier in Scotland Today – What Does the Future Hold? (Brian Etheridge, Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme)

16.30hr – Discussion

Additional information available from Sarah Keast – Activities and Events:  [email protected]

Watson Bird Centre & Celebrations
The Session House
Dalry Church
Main Street
St John’s Town of Dalry
Dumfries & Galloway
DG7 3UP

01644 430457

August 2nd, 2012 | Category: Hen Harrier, Hen Harriers

3 comments to Disappointing Hen Harrier season on the Isle of Skye & Scottish Hen Harrier Seminar

  • Jimmy
    August 2, 2012 at 1:20 pm · Reply

    Is there any info about where these birds are wintering??

  • Circus maximus
    August 2, 2012 at 8:24 pm · Reply

    Its starting to look like volunteer effort would be better spent watching winter roost sites rather than summer nest visits.

    Sadly both are needed….

  • MJ
    September 21, 2012 at 11:46 am · Reply

    So 3 pairs of birds failed out of 5 due to natural causes and you still bang on about persecution being the main problem?

    Are you sure it is not a shortage of prey in general?

    Are there many shooting estates active on Skye?

    Just questions as I have said before I had the pleasure of rescuing a hen harrier and releasing it also – but not on Skye ;)

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