Why Hen harrier brood management is vital for the future of shooting

Is there a true countryman or -woman alive who doesn’t relish the sight of one of this nation’s majestic birds of prey on the wing? Be it a peregrine in a stoop or a red kite wheeling on a thermal, it is hard not to admire these beautiful birds. This being said, we are all acutely aware of the debate that surrounds the the relationship between birds of prey and the shooting community.

Opponents of grouse shooting have always pointed to a lack of Hen Harriers to accuse the sector of illegal persecution and to suggest that driven grouse shooting is incompatible with biodiversity. The shooting community, in turn, get extremely frustrated at the lack of recognition of the tremendous species and habitat conservation work done in their name day in day out. The government continues to face intense pressure on this issue from powerful anti-shooting lobby groups.

There have been some very significant strides made by the shooting sector. Its involvement in a wide variety of schemes and initiatives demonstrating its deep felt commitment to wildlife have achieved some cut through. A striking example is the sector’s involvement in the Government-led Hen Harrier Recovery Action plan. A key element of that plan is the Hen Harrier Brood Management Scheme.

What is Hen Harrier Brood Management?

Hen Harriers were once a common sight around the UK, but the tendency of them to predate on grouse, other game birds and even chickens (hence the name) contributed to their near extirpation from the UK.

The Joint Raptor Study, which investigated the interactions between red grouse and hen harriers, and the wider Langholm Moor Project were an experiment to establish whether commercial grouse shooting and hen harriers could co-exist without intervention, and showed that unfettered hen harrier populations quickly impacted grouse stocks to an extent which made grouse shooting unviable.

Thus was born the Hen Harrier Brood Management Scheme, inspired by successful projects in France to protect Monatgu’s Harrier nests from combine harvesters. The brood management scheme is a ground-breaking research trial allowing grouse moors to remove Hen Harrier broods when they nest too close together. (Hen Harriers are known to occupy nesting territories close to each other).

Eggs or chicks are taken, reared by raptor experts and then re-released on an approved site to help spread out the population and reduce the impact on grouse chicks in a particular area, thus giving moor owners the confidence to know that hen harrier populations can be managed. .

Grouse moor owners are also providing winter roosting spots and safeguarding their nesting sites. The birds can be satellite tracked to understand more about their movements and food can be put out to boost chick survival. All of these activities are crucial to the success of the scheme.

Positive results

This trial has propelled a record-breaking increase in breeding results in its first years. In 2021, 84 chicks fledged from 24 nests, 19 of them on grouse moors – 79 per cent. This is the highest number of chicks fledged since records in England began.

This fabulous progress is vital for continued Government support of our sport, for the wildlife that thrives on grouse moors and for the rural upland communities that depend on it.

Wild Justice running scared

Chris Packham, Wild Justice and RSPB have tried their best to stop this solution designed and delivered by the grouse shooting community. They have taken Government to court not once, but twice, in a desperate attempt to revoke the Scheme’s brood management licence and thwart its success. They have lost both times, on all grounds, yet defending the licence has cost the taxpayer nearly £250,000.

Building on success

This research project is remarkable but also very expensive as it involves biosecurity measures, expertise and equipment in order to meet the Government’s stringent licensing requirements. The Moorland Association has spent over £150,000, thus far largely funded by grouse moor owner subscriptions (and a grant awarded by The Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Trust), but as nests increase, more funds are required.

To prove that brood management works and is a model that could be replicated across the country as a conservation tool, the trial needs to run for at least one more year, ideally longer. However, the costs involved are significant, as much as £50,000 per year. Given the importance of changing the perception of the relationship between shooting and raptors in the eyes of the public and certain politicians, the continuation of the project is something that all shooting people should get behind.

Amanda Anderson, Director of the Moorland Association notes that if the brood management concept is proven, the possibilities are endless, commenting: “It is vitally important that this innovative trial is developed from the research stage to being applied widely in practice. The benefits to wildlife conservation would be huge and would also demonstrate clearly that the shooting community is a trusted partner in managing wildlife sensitively. That would be a real achievement and should stand the shooting community in good stead for the future.”

Make a donation

You can support the Moorland Association by making a donation. Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the Hen Harrier Brood Management Scheme and the Moorland Association, Amanda Anderson, Director of the Association would be glad to hear from you. You can drop her an email here.

In order to show his appreciation for those who make the most generous contributions, Mark Cunliffe Lister, Chair of the Moorland Association, has offered to give the top 5 biggest donors a guided wildlife safari at his Swinton Estate along with his head keeper, taking in the Hen Harriers roost site, followed by dinner with him.

Alternative donation options:

By cheque: The Moorland Association, PO Box 75, Leyburn, DL8 9AQ

BACS transfer: The Moorland Association, Nat West, Sort code: 01-54-90 Acc no: 64832759 (ref HHBM