1
Juvenile hen harrier. 2
The hen harrier is a ground-nesting bird; these youngsters were photographed in a moorland nest.
Detailed records of hen harrier numbers on Orkney’s islands stretch back to 1953. By the late 1980s and early 1990s numbers were worryingly low. This prompted a study, funded by RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the University of Aberdeen, to explore the underlying reasons for the decline.
The study revealed that loss of foraging habitat lay at the heart of the issue. Heavy grazing and loss of rough grasslands, a favoured hunting ground of this beautiful harrier, were leading to a significant shortage of suitable prey, particularly Orkney voles. This sparked a concerted move to influence agricultural practices, and the number of grazing sheep within hen harrier breeding areas was reduced by around 20% in the decade following 1998. This key change allowed the regeneration of foraging habitat and as a consequence hen harrier numbers were able to recover. Gail Churchill, SNH’s operations manager for Orkney,
picks up the story. “The Orkney Hen Harrier scheme started in 2003 and was one of the first new voluntary initiatives proposed as part of SNH’s Natural Care programme. We are delighted that the ideas sown back then have contributed to the resurgence of the species, which is an important element of our local biodiversity. “The hen harrier scheme – which ran until 2008 – allowed many farmers to manage the moorland and adjacent rough grassland areas, thereby increasing the feeding areas available for hen harriers. Now, management options are available through Rural Development Contracts which help provide the platform for these magnificent birds to continue to prosper.
“It is wonderful to see that the Orkney hen harrier population is once again thriving and we welcome the efforts that have gone in to making this such a success story.”
54 The Nature of Scotland
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