Two hen harriers feared killed after leaving nests

Two rare birds which disappeared from their nests are suspected of having been killed, says the RSPB.

Staff at the conservation charity have reported being "sickened" by the sudden loss of the male hen harriers from its Geltsdale Nature Reserve in Cumbria.

The pair's disappearance has left the chicks in the nests in need of food, dampening hopes of a successful 2025 breeding season.

The charity said hen harriers were often targets for rogue gamekeepers trying to protect commercial grouse stocks from being preyed upon, adding: "This killing has to stop."

It also said the disappearance had been reported to Cumbria Police.

Known for their acrobatic courtship displays, hen harriers are categorised as a red-listed species in the UK due to the declining breeding population.

RSPB's local team is currently providing food to the female at one of the nests at Geltsdale - which is surrounded by grouse moors - in a desperate attempt to save the chicks.

Fears over the latest losses, which occurred within days of each other, come after a previous male was found fatally shot on neighbouring land in spring 2023.

A police investigation into that death was unable to prove who had been responsible.

The RSPB is also renewing calls for England to follow Scotland's lead with regard to tougher regulation of grouse-shooting industry.

Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: "It is truly sickening to lose these particular birds from Geltsdale in such a short space of time.

"The last five years have seen a high count of crimes against hen harriers with 102 suspected or confirmed incidents, the majority happening on or close to grouse moors.

"This killing has to stop."

She added that "for these magnificent birds to ever have a sustainable population in England", estates proven to be linked to raptor persecution "would simply lose their licence to operate".

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