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The RSPB has revealed that three more satellite-tagged Hen Harriers have disappeared from private grouse moors. The GPS tags on these birds indicated that they vanished from the moors in the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, and Cumbria between 9 and 15 August. These disappearances occurred close to the start of the grouse-shooting season.

RSPB Chief Executive, Beccy Speight, expressed concern over the situation. She stated that it was the first time such a significant number of Hen Harriers had gone missing in such a short span, all on driven grouse moors. Speight emphasized the need to address this issue to ensure a sustainable population of these magnificent birds in England. She mentioned that nest productivity would be meaningless if the survival of the birds is not ensured.

According to the RSPB, these three missing birds add to the 21 others that were reported missing in the 12 months leading up to April.

The last known locations transmitted by the missing birds were Westburnhope Moor near Hexham in the North Pennines on 9 August, Mossdale Moor near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales on 11 August, and Birkdale Common near Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria on 15 August.

In addition to these latest disappearances, the RSPB reported that nine other satellite-tagged harriers vanished or were found dead near Birkdale Common since September 2020.

All three incidents have been reported to the police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. The RSPB encourages anyone with information about the killing of birds of prey to report it anonymously to their confidential Raptor Crime Hotline at 0300 999 0101.

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