I’ve spent most of my photography time this winter down on the Humber bank focussing mainly on hen harriers with the odd hour or two on the short-eared owls. The abundance of voles as well as some pristine habitat has created dream conditions for the birds and wildlife watchers alike.
Just recently the area was featured on bbc news a link to the article is here
There is no doubt that the sight of a hunting hen harrier in bright sunlight is an exhilarating sight, all of a sudden they will twist and turn in mid flight then disappear into the scrub only to re-appear seconds later (or stay down if they’ve caught something).
What I cant understand is why these magnificent birds are the most persecuted birds of prey in the UK. OK yes I can anyone with the slightest interest in raptor persecution will know that gamekeepers on UK grouse moors account for more illegal killing of hen harriers than any other cause.
Why is this? Well hen harriers breed on the uplands and the adult birds prey on grouse to feed their young. In any civil society this natural occurrence would be allowed to happen just as mother nature intended.
But not in the greed filled killing fields of the UK uplands. Anything seen as a threat to grouse is mercilessly butchered in the name of saving the grouse.
But why are grouse so important? Well it just so happens that very rich people are prepared to spend a large amount of money to shoot grouse. Landowners are prepared to do what it takes to protect and enhance their grouse stock all to the detriment of the wildlife that inhabit the moor.
If killing wildlife wasn’t enough, the moors are systematically burnt to promote the growth of heather-the food of the grouse. So an artificial landscape is created and it effectively becomes a desert where only grouse and heather survive.
Getting back to hen harriers, in 2023 at least 24 hen harriers were killed by human intervention. These are only the known cases, no doubt there will be more, and these figures only include hen harriers.
Don’t forget all of the buzzards, kites and anything else percieved as a threat to grouse.
The birds are apparently protected by the law, however it is a) very difficult to prosecute individuals and when prosecution is successful, the sentences handed out are so weak they can hardly be described as a deterrent.
There are numerous organisations doing a great job in promoting awareness including The RSPB and Raptor Persecution. Chris Packham is a great advocate and Wild Justice is an organisation set up to challenge The Government in the courts about issues on wildlife protection which includes hen harrier persecution.
Some big organisations are listening. Scottish Water banned grouse shooting on its land earler this year and The National trust banned grouse shooting on 1600 acres of its land in The Peak District.
What gets my goat the most, is there perception by people with far more money than me, that they can systematically kill our wildlife, therefor depriving us, of some of natures natural wonders. UK wildlife belongs to no-one and everyone, it is there for all to enjoy.
The law and its penalties offer no deterrent and because the killing is relentless, it is unfit for purpose.
There will be no-one happier than me when the day that driven grouse shooting on British Moorland is rightfully consigned to the dustbin, never ever to be re-opened.
