13/9/2016

Raptors, Uplands & Peatlands - thoughts on the Sheffield conference

MoorBy Andrew Gilruth, GWCT Communications Director

The organisers had done a brilliant job in bringing a diverse range of speakers together, but it was frustrating that so few people came to hear them. I estimated there were some 50 delegates there on Friday (less organisers and speakers). For those that are interested in these things I offer some personal reflections on the first day of the conference.

Raptor conflict is not black and white

Angela Smith MP (Penistone and Stocksbridge – Labour) pointed out that the “deeply embedded conflict” is “not a black and white issue”. She illustrated this by pointing out those calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting should recognise it may not necessarily lead to the end of the illegal killing of birds of prey. Angela reiterated that the best way forward was to balance raptors and moorland management.

Urban society – disconnected from our countryside

Professor Ian Rotherham (Sheffield Hallam University) explained his view that we are an urban society that has “disconnected” from our countryside. We now just view the countryside as a place for recreation, and this “cultural severance” has real risks. This disconnect has already happened in other countries. In North America, Australia and South Africa, the suppression of traditional vegetation-burning techniques has had catastrophic consequences.

Driven grouse shooting – the benefits

Pat Thompson (RSPB) highlighted his five points:

  • Protection of heath and bog from forestry
  • Significant investment in management and restoration of upland heath
  • Legal control of predators benefits some birds
  • Tick control
  • Local economy

Wader birds

Dr Adam Smith (GWCT) also reminded the conference of the loss of curlew, golden plover and lapwing on Langholm Moor when the gamekeepers left, and this is a key driver behind the GWCT’s commitment to the Defra hen harrier recovery plan.

Wader Graphs

Langholm Moor

The data from Langholm was cited by several speakers. Adam Smith pointed out that there was a period in the 90s where hen harriers and driven grouse shooting did co-exist.

Langholm Graph

So is driven grouse shooting “underpinned” by wildlife crime?

Professor Stephen Redpath (University of Aberdeen) was asked by Mark Avery if his former work at Langholm showed “that driven grouse shooting is underpinned by wildlife crime – Yes/No?”. The response was a simple “No”. Stephen was one of the scientists involved in the original Joint Raptor Study (JRS) at Langholm (sometimes referred to as Langholm One) and went on to explain the variation between moors, including voles and meadow pipit numbers.

Conflict resolution – strong leadership and time

Pat Thompson (RSPB) explained why the RSPB had withdrawn its support for Defra’s hen harrier action plan after six months because they had “run out of patience”, but as Professor Stephen Redpath (University of Aberdeen) explained, effective conflict resolution “needs strong leaders“ and “needs time”. Adrian Jowitt (Principal Advisor, Natural England) explained that the plan stemmed from six years of talks and “accommodated the view of all involved”. Mark Avery said that he was “not interested in compromise”.

Brood Management Scheme

HH

Philip Merricks (Chairman, Hawk & Owl Trust) explained their involvement and Adam Smith explained that “in France and in the Iberian Peninsula, an average 60% of nestlings are saved by this kind of measure”.

Adrian Jowitt explained that they would be running a trial, and Stephen Redpath likes brood management because we can monitor and test it. 

Lowland reintroduction

Stephen Murphy (Hen Harrier Project Officer, Natural England) explained that since 2002 there have been three recorded nests (producing seven chicks) in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, which he feels are probably French harriers.

Adrian Jowitt explained that any lowland reintroduction would be sourced from Europe, which left me wondering why the RSPB had decided not to get involved in the lowland harrier reintroduction. Mike Clarke (CEO, RSPB) said only last month that “we [RSPB] want them [hen harriers] back here [RSPB Rainham Marshes]” – reintroduction could do that quickly.

Dr Adam Smith's Presentation 

Below are the slides from the presentation Dr Adam Smith delivered at the conference:

Comments

Hen Harriers

at 8:19 on 14/09/2016 by Owen WIllams

Taking data from the latest BTO Bird Atlas (2007 -11) it appears that one of this most significant areas to suffer a decline in breeding hen harrier is west of the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway. My understanding is that this is not a driven grouse shooting area. Whilst not wishing to draw attention away from the serious point of raptor persecution, should those who profess to care for hen harriers also focus their attention on what appears to be more widespread negative pressure on this species. Significantly in many areas this decline is mirrored by equally worrying declines in other moorland species.

RSPB and Hen Hariers

at 4:50 on 14/09/2016 by John Gough

The RSPB do not support the reintroduction of hen harriers because they want to be able to report consistently low numbers and use it as a stick with which to beat grouse shooting moors. How are the harriers doing on their own reserve? The Royal Society for the Prevention of Birds finally lives up to its name!

Predation of harriers

at 21:06 on 13/09/2016 by David Scott

To Kevin Appleton: I don't know about regularly but somewhere I have a photo of a harrier which my late father found dead on open ground in North Angus about 25 years ago. He was very curious to find it just lying there, apparently uninjured, and on close inspection found tell tale talon punctures on its back. There was a known peregrine nesting site within a mile.

Hen harriers

at 14:48 on 13/09/2016 by Mike Gough

I have great distrust of the RSPB as they are always ready to blame grouse moor management for the lack of breeding hen harriers, however I have yet to here them publicise the number of breeding harriers they have on their own moor in the Forest of Bowland. Surely they should have several pairs on their ground where there is no pressure from grouse shooting. I look forward to hearing how they are faring.

Predation of Harriers

at 14:40 on 13/09/2016 by Kevin Appleton

Some years ago a friend of mine used to fly Peregrines at Grouse, he always stated that prior to releasing the Falcon to hunt , he always had to check for the presence of Hen Harriers, as if the Peregrine sighted a Harrier, it would attempt to kill the Harrier before anything else , usually the outcome would be successful for the Falcon ! If this could happen in a hunting scenario, does anyone know if this occurs regularly in the wild ?

Raptors, Uplands & Peatlands

at 13:13 on 13/09/2016 by Bryan Benn

My interest is Short-eared Owls, and I am almost six years into an intensive study of them as a write a book on that species. I know that other species are important from a conservation point of view. Hen Harriers of course spring to mind, as the owls and the harriers often use the same breeding and over-wintering territories. So I often enjoy watching those large raptors as I wait for Short-eared Owls to get active. And, with the exception of occasional good vole years as on Langholm Moor in 2014, where very good keepering made it a safe location for them, it seems waiting for the owls is becoming increasingly the norm, as their breeding numbers in Britain continue to decline. So please, amongst your other plans (which of course I am behind as a GWCT member), don't forget the Shorties. Lest we wake one day to find their breeding numbers in Britain have fallen below the point of no return.

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