Hen Harrier Bonny fledges at RSPB Geltsdale

A single Hen Harrier chick has successfully fledged at RSPB Geltsdale for the first time in a decade.

The male bird, named Bonny, was the only chick to hatch from a clutch of five eggs at the North Pennines reserve and is one of only seven to fledge in the whole of England this season. The other chicks fledged from two nests in Northumberland. 

Hen Harriers are on the verge of extinction in England, resulting from ongoing illegal persecution on some grouse moors, and Bonny’s survival has been a classic tale of triumph over adversity, defying the odds at every turn. 

Blanaid Denman, the RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE Project Manager, explains: “Bonny’s mother arrived at the reserve back in May looking for a mate but she had to wait several weeks for a male to turn up. When one finally did appear, she was not impressed. 

“He was young and yet to gain his adult grey plumage. Normally, in a healthy population of Hen Harriers, an immature male like this wouldn't get a look in. But with so few birds in England, the female had little option but to accept his advances or leave breeding to another year.” 

Once it had been confirmed there was a nest, RSPB staff and volunteers mounted a 24/7 watch and provided supplementary food under licence, to ensure that the family of Hen Harriers had the best possible chance of survival and success. 

Blanaid Denman continues: “The supplementary food proved vital as the inexperienced male was hopelessly inattentive of his dependent female, often vanishing for days before reappearing with a paltry food offering. The extra food ensured that the female never had to go far from the nest to feed Bonny or herself.” 

Bonny has already achieved national fame as his name was selected by nature TV presenter Chris Packham from over 2,300 entries to a competition run by LUSH cosmetics, to celebrate the incredible £122,000 raised by their skydancer bathbombs to support Hen Harrier conservation. 

He is one of a number of Hen Harriers to be satellite tagged as part of RSPB's Hen Harrier LIFE Project across England, Scotland and the Isle of Man this year (see note). Once he has left Geltsdale in a few weeks, it will be possible to follow his movements online at rspb.org.uk/henharrierlife or @RSPB_Skydancer.

Source 

Delight as extinction-threatened hen harriers nest in North Pennines

05:30, 2 JUL 2016

BY TONY HENDERSON

Wildlife guardians are keeping a round-the-clock watch on the nest of a bird of prey on the edge of extinction in England.

The pair of hen harriers is nesting at the RSPB Geltsdale reserve in the North Pennines.

Wardens visited the nest under licence and were delighted to discover that the female is currently incubating five eggs on what is believed to be one of only three hen harrier nests in England this year.

If the eggs hatch, it will be the first time there have been hen harrier chicks at RSPB Geltsdale for a decade.

Hen harriers nest in the uplands but they are on the verge of extinction as a breeding bird in England owing to ongoing illegal persecution. In 2015, there were only six successful nests in the whole country.

Last year, a pair bred at Geltsdale but the nest failed during the incubation period after the male suddenly and inexplicably vanished while hunting. Faced with the prospect of starvation, the female had little choice but to abandon her eggs.

With the Government and landowners now officially committed to the recovery of the species through the DEFRA Hen Harrier Action Plan, published earlier this year, the RSPB hopes this season’s nests will fare better.

Steve Westerberg, site manager at RSPB Geltsdale, said: “We’re delighted that we have hen harriers breeding on the reserve once again. It’s an incredibly nerve-wracking time but we’re crossing our fingers that we’ll see fledged young in a few months’ time.

“Staff and volunteers are watching the nest around the clock to prevent unnecessary disturbance, and we have spoken to our neighbouring estates about the birds so they can play their part in helping to ensure that the birds are safe when they leave our reserve to hunt.”

Last year hen harriers bred in the North East for the first time in seven years.

The Northumberland Hen Harrier Protection Partnership reported that there were two successful nests on Forestry Commission land in the county. Another hen harrier nest in County Durham produced three chicks.

In 2013, there were no successful nests in England and in 2014 just three pairs bred.

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