Hen Harrier
Surfbirds News: RSPB Archives
The pair of
hen harriers
– one of the least familiar and most spectacular birds in the UK - has settled in north Northumberland, and the RSPB, Forestry Commission, National Wildlife Crime Unit and Northumbria Police are working together to safeguard the nest, with funding support from SITA Trust. There are only 15 active harrier nests known in the whole of England this year. All but three are in one area of Lancashire, where most of the land is owned by United Utilities, and the nests are monitored by the RSPB and others.
Hen Harrier, copyright Steven Round
More than 25 volunteers are helping to watch over the Northumberland birds and they are working day and night alongside RSPB officers, Forestry Commission rangers, members of the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club and the Police. The harrier ‘task force’ is equipped with high-powered optics, cameras, specialist night vision equipment and other security measures are in place in the area where the birds are nesting.
The importance of protecting the harrier nest has been highlighted by an incident last year, when a female harrier nesting in Northumberland disappeared in mysterious circumstances. The bird is believed to have been shot while away from her nest, which contained two eggs. Another nest 2 km away failed when the eggs vanished.
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