Raptor Politics

We have already reported in our earlier posts that site 7 has been one of a number of nesting sites subjected to persistent persecution and interference over the last two decades in the Forest of Bowland. In the last 10 seasons, despite eggs being laid at site 7 each year, only 3 young have managed [...]

This pair of falcons who use the United Utilities estates for their breeding attempts have managed to produce just 1 chick out of 5 eggs laid this season. We are not sure how people reading this will perceive it but any one with even a small understanding of wild nesting birds will know that although clutches of eggs [...]

As mentioned before on this website, the United Utilities estates in the Forest Of Bowland are a flag ship body in helping the cause and breeding attempts of many schedule 1, protected raptors. It is without doubt THE last strong hold area for the Hen Harrier population and THE leading estates for production and breeding [...]

Quite obviously due to the issues raised by this website the safety and success of all nesting peregrines and other birds of prey in the Bowland area is our paramount concern. The safety and security of these birds will not under any circumstances be put at jeopardy by our group and we keep an avid [...]

In the many years that field workers have been monitoring and studying in Bowland, a lot of experience is gained about individual sites, birds and rearing capabilities. These can obviously vary as the same bird and even same pair of birds aren’t guaranteed to be in the same site every year, but to a point, [...]

Site 2 now has 2 healthy chicks and 1 unhatched egg – chicks very healthy, and approx 10 – 14 days old.
Site 6 – it was assumed that all 3 eggs had been “tampered” with. However, on inspection today one chick was found  just hatched (within last the 12 hours) and the other egg pipping/hatching.
This [...]

During the last few decades direct human persecution of birds of prey throughout England’s moorland uplands have taken a different and sinister tack. No longer do we find nests containing smashed eggs or dead chicks with their heads decapitated. No, the strategies being used today to reduce brood sizes have now become much more [...]