Hen Harrier Day is also an annual occasion to raise our voices against the main reason for that rarity, namely illegal persecution and illegal killing.
Since 2004, the numbers of Hen Harriers have decreased by 24% and we all know the reason why this downward dive is so steep. There should be 300 pairs in England alone yet each year only a handful of nests are recorded. Scientific research published in 2019 showed that 72% of the satellite-tagged Hen Harriers in their study were killed or very likely to have been killed on UK grouse moors and that Hen Harriers were 10 times more likely to die or disappear over areas of grouse moor relative to other land uses.
In addition, Hen Harrier Day is a symbol for wider environmental problems in our uplands.
Supporters of Hen Harrier Day wish to see nature and wildlife flourishing again in our uplands. The scourge of driven grouse shooting still dominates vast tracts of our uplands, reducing them to a barren wasteland where you will be lucky to see any wildlife other than a Red Grouse.
Both mammals, such as the Mountain Hare, Pine Marten, Hedgehog and Badger, and raptors such as the Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, Red Kite and Common Buzzard, are systematically persecuted, trapped, snared, poisoned and shot.
The Hen Harrier, a rare and beautiful raptor, has the misfortune to include grouse in its diet and it has therefore become the symbol of a growing campaign.
Hen Harrier Days are normally community days of action held at a number of locations around the UK and they provide an opportunity for all of us to press for an end to wildlife crime and the wider abuse of our uplands.
In recent years, I have attended the Hen Harrier Day at RSPB Rainham Marshes which included guest speakers such as Chris Packham, Mark Avery and others.
Here are some photos of Hen Harrier Day at RSPB Rainham Marshes in August 2016:
Photo: Chris Packham at Hen Harrier Day 2016, RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex
Photo: Mark Avery at Hen Harrier Day 2016, RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex
However, this
year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no
local Hen Harrier Days although a fantastic online event is planned for 8th
August …. see here.
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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