A pioneering project has been launched by Natural England in partnership with the International Centre for Birds of Prey, which will see hen harriers being bred in captivity for the first time and released onto Salisbury Plain, with the aim of restoring the endangered bird of prey across southern England.
The raptors disappeared from lowland Britain in the late 19th century, largely as a result of persecution.
In England, a breeding population of hen harriers is currently confined to northern moorlands, where the birds are still the target of illegal persecution.
Over in mainland Europe, hen harriers are widely found breeding on grasslands and among arable crops, leading some scientists to believe that the species could thrive across southern England if a pioneering population was established here.
The first 10 hen harriers are already in the UK and were sourced from rescued and orphaned birds in France.
It is hoped that the initial breeding programme will lead to the release of young birds later this year.
Up to 100 birds will be released over the course of the project and all of them will be fitted with satellite tags to monitor their progress and track the location of any nests.
“The southern hen harrier reintroduction project is an excellent example of international collaboration to drive species recovery,” says Simon Lee from Natural England. “Working together, we hope to create a sustainable population that supports the long-term revival of this much-loved species.”
However, the project has been criticised by some conservation groups: “Ending hen harrier persecution is the key to restoring the UK’s population of these magnificent birds, and as such the RSPB is not a partner in the reintroduction, though we wish the birds well,” says the charity’s senior conservation officer Mike Shurmer. “The RSPB considers that if illegal killing was removed or drastically reduced, hen harriers would be able to spread back to their former range.”
Lee says, “Hen harriers sadly face many challenges, including persecution and habitat loss. We are committed to driving down persecution to ensure permanent recovery of the species.”
Main image: Hen harrier flying in Scotland © Sandra Standbridge/Getty
