Shooting estates highlight efforts to boost hen harriers
SHOOTING estates yesterday said they were “at the heart” of efforts to boost one of Scotland’s rarest birds of prey.
The hen harrier has suffered a dramatic decline in recent years, with the Scottish population currently estimated at fewer than 500 pairs.
The latest national survey of hen harriers, carried out in 2016, shows the UK population has declined by 24 per cent since 2004.
In Scotland there has been a 57% decline on grouse moors since 2010, and conservationists say illegal persecution is having a “huge detrimental impact” on their numbers.
Scottish Land & Estates said an estimated 330,000 acres of sporting estates – including driven grouse moors – are now involved in the Heads Up for Harriers project.
The project, led by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAW Scotland), aims to increase awareness of the species and examine ways to increase the population.
David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “There are a number of initiatives that celebrate the hen harrier and it is heartening to see the enthusiasm of estates and land managers around the country who are committed to doing their bit to boost the hen harrier population.
“We are seeing an even greater commitment to improving the numbers of harriers, which are sensitive to many factors, particularly weather and food supply.
“There are variations in annual breeding pairs, but we now have a very substantial acreage involved in Heads Up for Harriers, which is very encouraging.
“Illegal control of harriers on grouse moors is commonly blamed for low numbers in parts of Scotland, so it is good to see raptor crime of all types has been dropping steadily.
“Real progress has been made and there remains a real desire to see any wildlife crime eradicated.”
Conservationists are awaiting the recommendations of an independent inquiry panel commissioned in May 2017 by the Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham to look into how grouse moors can be managed within the law and explore options for its regulation.
The panel was created following a review of satellite tagged golden eagles that showed 41 of 131 birds had disappeared – presumed dead – in suspicious circumstances in Scotland, predominantly on or near to some driven grouse moors.