Hen Harrier Brood Management: An Update
- Andrew Gilruth
- Mar 14
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 7
A Natural England-led evaluation of the hen harrier brood management trial has concluded that it is has led to more hen harriers successfully breeding on grouse moors.
Whilst the various research reports have yet to be published, Natural England has shared its conclusions. These include:
The numbers of hen harriers nesting in areas managed for grouse shooting increased significantly.
This increase is due to more birds settling and breeding, rather than the act of brood management itself (see BTO research).
The most likely explanation is that the scheme gave confidence to moorland managers that the impacts of hen harriers on grouse could be effectively managed.
The process of taking birds into captivity and releasing them again had no negative effects on the birds themselves.
Law enforcement, alone, has failed to stop some birds being illegally killed.
Detractors said this project would never work. How wrong they were. Defra must be congratulated for including brood management in its plan to recover the species.
What next?
In line with global guidelines on wildlife conflict resolution, produced by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a conservation licence must now be issued. This is why we applied for one six months ago.
Natural England has said that no decisions have been made on a future licence. With hen harriers migrating back to our moors now, it needs to make a swift decision. Without people and kit in place one of the UK's most remarkable success stories will unravel.