On a wing and a prayer: Bird sanctuary celebrates record-breaking 32 chicks for at-risk hen harriers
Boost for raptor targeted illegally on grouse moors
Efforts to repopulate Scotland’s under-threat hen harrier population have been boosted by a recordbreaking breeding season at one bird sanctuary.
A total of 32 chicks have been born at the National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge Estate to eight pairs of hen harriers, making it the site’s most productive year to date after the species returned to the area in 2016.
Since then, the number of breeding pairs has grown year by year, with 11 pairs in 2023 and eight of those successfully producing chicks.
The bird of prey almost became extinct due to intensive grouse shooting in the Victorian era, followed by habitat loss and, by 1900, most of the hen harriers disappeared from mainland Britain, but remained in Orkney and the Western Isles. Numbers began to increase gradually but, in recent decades, the birds have begun to decline in several areas, a trend that is evident in northern England and east Scotland, where moorland is used for grouse shooting.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take wild birds, including hen harriers. But the birds are still shot, trapped and poisoned in areas where are managed for driven grouse shooting.
The British Trust for Ornithology has estimated that there are fewer than 700 pairs of hen harriers in the UK.
In addition to the hen harriers, a pair of white-tailed eagles that made Mar Lodge their home last year, successfully produced two chicks that have now fledged successfully. Peregrine falcons, golden eagles, tawny owls and buzzards have also fared well this year, with successful breeding confirmed for all the species.
There have also been reports of osprey sightings and the park remains optimistic that a breeding pair may set up home at the estate in the future.
Shaila Rao, National Trust for Scotland’s Conservation Manager at Mar Lodge Estate, said: “We’re thrilled at the news the birds of prey that choose to call Mar Lodge home have had such a great breeding year. This amazingly productive season is likely to be a result of a vole population peak that is providing an abundant food supply for hen harriers and other birds of prey that live on the estate.
“We have worked in partnership with the RSPB to satellitetag four female chicks to allow us to learn more about hen harrier ecology and it will be great to see where these birds head off to once they have fledged. We were delighted to hear two female harriers, tagged on the estate last year as chicks, bred successfully for the first time elsewhere in Scotland.
“It’s thanks to the amazing generosity of our members and supporters that we’re able to look after this special place, to preserve its important wildlife and nature for future generations to enjoy.
“This support allows our team to continue their vital work to monitor the different species on the estate, to understand more about them, and track potential threats to the bird populations from the climate crisis for example. It’s been a busy and exciting year for raptors at Mar Lodge and we look forward to what 2024 will bring.”