Survey finds ‘worrying’ fall in hen harrier numbers

● Study reveals Scottish population has fallen to just 460 breeding pairs

The hen harrier, one of Scotland’s rarest and most threatened birds of prey, has suffered another “worrying” drop in numbers, according to a new study.

The latest hen harrier survey reveals a Scottish population of just 460 breeding pairs, a fall of 9 per cent since the last national survey in 2010 when 505 pairs were found.

Scotland holds 80 per cent of the UK’S hen harriers, but only Orkney and the Hebrides have not witnessed a decline in numbers over the past six years.

The UK population is now estimated in total to be just 545 breeding pairs.

Although the latest fall is reckoned by experts to be statistically not significant, and may be linked to a shortage last year of voles, the lack of any sign of a recovery and the continuing small size of the hen harrier population overall means the birds are extremely vulnerable to the effects of habitat degradation and wildlife crime.

It is also the second successive fall in the Scottish hen harrier population revealed by national surveys. Over the past 12 years, the number of breeding pairs has dropped by 27 per cent in Scotland.

The hen harrier used to be a widespread and familiar bird in the uplands of Britain.

However by 1900, persecution by Victorian gamekeepers, taxidermists and egg collectors had pushed it to extinc-

0 A young hen harrier is fitted with an electronic tag by the RSPB tion as a breeding species on the British mainland.

The birds are now one of Britain’s most threatened raptors. According to the RSPB, independent research has identified illegal killing as one of the main constraints on this species, along with climate change and the loss of heather moorland and other suitable nesting habitat.

Its diet of birds and small mammals includes red grouse, thereby bringing the species into conflict with man, despite special legal protection.

Duncan Orr-ewing, head of species at RSPB Scotland, said: “The hen harrier is an indicator of the health of our upland environment, and the fact that its population continues to decline is of major concern. The hen harrier is a high priority for our conservation work and urgent steps need to be taken to tackle illegal killing of this species and to improve their moorland breeding habitats.”

Tim Baynes, director of the Scottish Moorland Group, said: “Scotland is still the UK stronghold for the hen harriers by a huge margin.

“However, it is disappointing to see any indication of decline in Scotland.”