Following the success of last year’s crowdfunded Christmas Appeal, upland wildlife conservation charity Hen Harrier Action has launched a new appeal funding satellite tags to monitor young Hen Harriers and deter criminality.
The appeal, set up by Hen Harrier Action trustee Jonathan Wilson, aims to raise enough money to fund at least three tags, which will be fitted next Spring by experts from the RSPB and partners. Last year’s appeal raised more than £13,000 from over 500 donors and funded four satellite tags for young Hen Harriers.
Wilson, a volunteer with the charity, said “I was absolutely delighted by the success of last year’s Christmas fundraising appeal and I hope that our generous supporters will donate again this year to protect even more Hen Harriers. We are determined to protect these majestic birds and ensure that their future in the UK is secure. We are incredibly grateful for every donation.”
Hen Harriers are Britain’s rarest, and most persecuted, bird of prey. The recently published RPSB Birdcrime Report documents the relentless scale of persecution, reporting the highest toll of Hen Harriers suspected or proven to have been illegally killed on record. The continuing chronic levels of persecution will severely hamper the chance of any recovery for this charismatic bird. And recent covert footage captured by the RSPB Investigations Team and broadcast by Channel 4 News demonstrates how powerful satellite tags are as a deterrent to criminals.
Satellite tagging young Hen Harrier chicks on the nest, typically at around 28 days old, helps organisations like the RSPB and Natural England track and monitor the young birds as they fledge and seek out territories. The tags will continue to work for at least five years, but sadly most Hen Harriers do not live that long. A recent scientific study reports that the average life expectancy of tracked birds was just 121 days. Illegal killing is the main cause of death in birds over one year of age, and a major cause of death for younger birds.
The satellite tags will be fitted and monitored by dedicated staff at the RSPB. Head of Investigations for the RSPB, Mark Thomas, stressed the value of the funds raised: “The donations for satellite tags are really important for us. Without satellite tags, we couldn’t track what is happening to Hen Harriers and so we are very dependent on that kind of generous support to help us monitor the birds. Tag technology is advancing all the time, and so our ability to track the birds is continually improving.”
You can read more about the appeal here:
https://www.henharrierday.uk/news/2024-hen-harrier-satellite-tag-christmas-appeal/
And you can read the full interview with RSPB’s Mark Thomas here:
https://www.henharrierday.uk/news/in-conversation-with-mark-thomas-rspbs-head-of-investigations/
