Hen harriers and red grouse: Finding common ground in a persistent conflict

Date:  December 17, 2018

Source:  British Ecological Society

A conflict between those working to conserve numbers of hen harriers and those maintaining commercial shooting of red grouse in the English uplands has existed for decades with little sign of progress.

Drawing on work conducted in psychology, a new study published today in the journal People and Nature investigated the underlying values that hunters and conservationists hold that make it so hard to find shared solutions.

Ecological studies over the last 30 years have shown that hen harriers and other birds of prey are capable of reducing the number of grouse to such an extent that driven grouse shooting can become economically unviable. Consequently, hen harriers, although protected under UK legislation since 1952, are killed illegally on grouse moors.

Researchers from Bangor University and the University of Aberdeen surveyed a range of organisations that represent the interests of field sports (i.e. hunting, shooting, fishing) or nature conservation in England to assess their values and attitudes towards hen harriers, grouse shooting and potential management interventions.

Dr Freya St John from Bangor University said: "We found that people who are involved in field sports and those engaged in bird conservation hold more or less opposing views about human relationships with nature, challenging our ability to find shared solutions."

"Although there is general agreement about the evidence of the ecological relationships between hen harriers and grouse, there is much less agreement about the best approach to manage them."

Read more  

Birds, bugs and blanket bogs—Scientists warn an entire eco-system is under threat

July 31, 2015

Several rare upland bird species are being put at risk together with other ecosystem functions by the effects of climate change on the UK's blanket bogs, ecologists at the University of York have discovered.

Most of our drinking water comes from these upland peats and several iconic bird species such as the dunlin, golden plover and red grouse depend on these wetland habitats for nesting and feeding.

The scientists warn that climate change threatens these habitats, not only from rising temperatures increasing peat decomposition, but also via altered rainfall patterns - with summer droughts drastically affecting the blanket bog hydrology.

Read more at: 

Kingfishers face being wiped out: Species and 37 others including puffins and curlew on list of British birds at risk of extinction

37 species of birds that occur regularly in the UK face extinction 

Across Europe one in five species face being wiped out according to study

EU and BirdLife International has published its 'red list' of birds at risk

They include the puffin, kingfisher, herring gull, lapwing, red grouse and curlew 

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 23:12, 3 June 2015 | UPDATED: 00:17, 4 June 2015

British birds such as the puffin and kingfisher are at risk of extinction, a new study warns.

The colourful kingfisher was once a common sight on our riverbanks but is now among the 37 species in danger of dying out. 

Others include the herring gull, lapwing, curlew and red grouse.

And across Europe, nearly one in five bird species face being wiped out, according to a recent assessment.

Climate change, habitat loss and changing land management have all been blamed for the decline in many species.

The puffin, pictured off the coast of Northumberland, is now among 37 species of birds in danger of dying out, a study has warned

The colourful kingfisher, pictured above catching a fish , was once a common sight on our river banks

The figures come from a newly published European Red List of Birds, which was put together following an assessment carried out by a consortium, led by BirdLife International.

The assessment, funded by the European Commission, has revealed that per cent of 451 European bird species are now considered to be at risk of extinction across Europe.

Read more:

Oddie backs red grouse for Britain’s national bird

Bill Oddie is clearly a little hot under the collar the moment, as he makes his case for the red grouse being adopted as Britain's national bird. His suggestion has arisen because the famous naturalist and former comedy star of the Goodies is concerned that certain wealthy people in society are killing the feathered moorfowl for sport. By elevating the bird to national 'emblem' status, he feels that they are likely to receive more protection and the people who are currently killing them may think twice about their actions.

Speaking earnestly and very obviously from the heart at the Oxford Literary Festival, Oddie asked the assembled audience how they thought that people would react about "blasting the national bird to buggery?" His comments were in reaction to what he perceives as the actions of a number of rich "dishonest, cruel" people in society, who have been hunting the red grouse for what he views as being purely for the reasons of sport.

Continued ...

RSPB welcomes Marks and Spencer stores' grouse sales suspension

Liz Roberts, Reporter

Friday 25 July 2014 07:15 PM GMT

Last updated at Friday 25 July 2014 07:17 PM GMT

One of the UK’s top retailers said it won’t stock red grouse in its stores this year.

Marks & Spencer said it could not guarantee a responsible source of the game for its stores, after a trial last year.
The company said it wanted to expand the number of outlets selling the bird but was unable to find estates meeting its strict responsible code.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds welcomed the retailer’s decision.

An M&S statement said: “We’ve been working hard over the past few months with estate managers, supported by the RSPB and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust to further develop our industry-leading responsible sourcing code of practice for game suppliers.

“We already make sure that the estates we source from, which are well known to us and are across northern England and the Scottish Borders, protect and enhance natural habitats for a bio-diverse landscape.

“All comply with legislation, of course they do. But for us that’s a bare minimum. We insist that they operate to the industry’s code of good shooting practice and the [Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] codes of practice for the welfare of game birds.

“But to go one step further, we’ve developed and are implementing our own responsible sourcing code for the industry that is truly transformational.

“It needs to provide a high level of protection for habitats in need of conservation and ensure that the estates that comply with the code are recognised as adding value to rural communities.

Continued ...

Isle of Man study supports red grouse reintroduction

Experts said the size of a grouse population is an "indicator of the health of the Manx upland ecosystem"

A study of the Isle of Man has recommended reintroducing red grouse to boost the island's dwindling population of the bird.

The Manx Uplands report, compiled by Professor Jim McAdam, said in the past three years breeding had declined.

Research suggests the fall in grouse population was "almost entirely due to predation by harriers and peregrines".

The report said: "The size of the grouse population is an indicator of the health of the upland ecosystem."

It recommended "to at least maintain the current level of upland management and strive to increase it by a controlled and monitored reintroduction of red grouse".

read on

Peatlands put in peril as demand for grouse shooting takes off

Grouse shooting is ruining the countryside of Northern England and Scotland, as swathes of wildlife-rich upland peatlands are burned to provide the optimum conditions for commercial red grouse, the RSPB has warned.

As much as 77,000 hectares, or 770 square kilometres, of upland peatland has been badly damaged by burning so far, with a marked acceleration in the rate in the past 15 years that looks set to continue as grouse shooting becomes increasingly popular, the RSPB said.

The Pennines, the North York Moors, the Peak District, Dartmoor and the East Highland Glens are the regions most affected by the burning, which has widespread repercussions for local wildlife as well as the fight against climate change and floods. A further 50,000 hectares of this wetland has been drained over the years, in part to help grouse populations, the RSPB adds, pointing out that while this practice is rare nowadays the effects of the drains cut into the hill can last for up to 50 years.

Continued