A MISSING bird of prey which set up home in one of Barnsley’s picturesque spots near Dunford Bridge has sparked a police probe after its satellite tag was found to have been cut off.
Hen harrier numbers have shown continuous improvement in the area in recent years, coinciding with the introduction of a recovery plan for the species and the availability of a brood management trial in the town’s further-laying location.
However, one hen harrier which the RSPB say is the most persecuted bird of prey in the UK due to their preference of roosting in heather is missing and its RSPB tag was found in Wales.
In late August of last year, data showed that the young bird had left the Peak District near the Woodhead Pass and settled on a grouse moor in North Wales.
On August 31 the bird’s satellite tag data revealed that it was no longer alive.
A search took place and the tag was located on days later but there was no sign of the bird’s body.
The tag was sent for forensic analysis by North Wales Police and results revealed that the satellite tag’s harness had been deliberately cut using a sharp implement.
All wild birds are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and anyone found to have killed or injured a bird of prey faces an unlimited fine and/or a maximum six-month jail sentence.
Mark Thomas, the RSPB’s head of investigations, said: “Sadly this incident is a textbook example of hen harrier persecution and really shows the massive impact these crimes are having on this species.
“In this case a healthy young bird fledged from a safe area in the Peak District National Park and sadly chose to settle in Wales’ ‘Bermuda Triangle’ the most notorious bird of prey persecution hotspot in the country.
“This three-month-old bird survived for just three days in the area before it vanished in highly suspicious circumstances.
“Based on years of evidence and intelligence, we suspect the criminal shot the harrier, cut the harness off its body, discarded the tag and disposed of the body in separate locations to avoid detection.
“As recent incidents show, this area is a crime hotspot for hen harriers and other birds of prey and this has to stop.”
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected incidents of bird of prey persecution by contacting the police on 101 and by submitting a report to the RSPB.
Craig Best, general manager for the National Trust in the Peak District, said park rangers were ‘devastated’ having overseen a resurgence in hen harriers.
“Hen harriers are an important species in the ecosystem of moorland habitats,” he added.
“We are devastated to learn of the fate of this magnificent bird that started its life on moorland in our care in the Peak District.
“We work hard to make sure these birds have good nesting and feeding grounds.
“If persecution is allowed to continue, we stand to lose a very important species that is crucial to the health of these landscapes and it can’t continue.”/ /
