Two rare birds of prey have disappeared from their nests at a Cumbrian nature reserve.
The male hen harriers went missing within a few days of each other at the RSPB reserve Geltsdale in north Cumbria.
Although this pattern of male birds disappearing from breeding sites has been seen before, the RSPB said it was particularly concerned and upset by the males going missing within a matter of days of each other.
It said observations showed that the males haven’t returned and the RSPB local team is now providing food to the female at one of the nests in a desperate attempt to save the chicks.
Hen harriers are a rare, protected species, known for their acrobatic skydancing courtship display over the uplands.
The hen harrier is categorised as a red-listed species in the UK, due to its low breeding population levels, following historic declines.
Male hen harriers hunt for prey several miles away from their nest sites and it is this activity which causes conflict with those who might wish to kill them in order to protect their grouse stocks used for commercial shooting, the RSPB said.
RSPB Geltsdale is surrounded by grouse moors and male birds from Geltsdale have often gone missing, the RSPB said.
In 2003, a male was found shot dead on a neighbouring grouse moor. Police were unable to prove who had killed it.
Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “It is truly sickening to lose these particular birds from Geltsdale in such a short space of time and with them our hopes of a successful breeding season.
“The last five years have seen a high count of crimes against hen harriers with 102 suspected or confirmed incidents, the majority happening on or close to grouse moors. If these magnificent birds are ever going to have a sustainable population in England, this killing has to stop.
“We need the immediate introduction of a licencing system for grouse shooting, so estates proven by the police and Natural England to be linked to raptor persecution would simply lose their licence to operate.”
The disappearances have been reported to the police.
If you notice a dead or injured bird of prey in suspicious circumstances, call the police on 101 and fill in the RSPB’s online reporting form at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wild-bird-crime-report-form/
If you have information about anyone killing birds of prey which you wish to report anonymously, call the RSPB’s confidential Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.
