Status of the Hen Harrier<i>Circus cyaneus</i>in the UK and Isle of Man in 2016

Wotton, Simon R.; Bladwell, Stephen; Mattingley, Wendy; Morris, Neil; Raw, David; Ruddock, Mark W.; Stevenson, Andrew; Eaton, Mark A.

doi:10.1080/00063657.2018.1476462

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…For scarce raptors, we used results from bespoke national surveys (e.g. Ewing et al, ; Hayhow et al, ; Wotton et al, in press), annual monitoring data collated by the Rare Breeding Bird Panel (RBBP; summarised in Hayhow et al, ) and the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme (SRMS; Challis et al, ). Finally, for gulls and skuas, we used results from the bespoke national Seabird Monitoring Program (JNCC, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

et al. 2018

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The impact of increasing vertebrate predator numbers on bird populations is widely debated among the general public, game managers and conservationists across Europe. However, there are few systematic reviews of whether predation limits the population sizes of European bird species. Views on the impacts of predation are particularly polarised in the UK, probably because the UK has a globally exceptional culture of intensive, high-yield gamebird management where predator removal is the norm. In addition, most apex predators have been exterminated or much depleted in numbers, contributing to a widely held perception that the UK has high numbers of mesopredators. This has resulted in many high-quality studies of mesopredator impacts over several decades. Here we present results from a systematic review of predator trends and abundance, and assess whether predation limits the population sizes of 90 bird species in the UK. Our results confirm that the generalist predators Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Crows (Corvus corone and C. cornix) occur at high densities in the UK compared with other European countries. In addition, some avian and mammalian predators have increased numerically in the UK during recent decades. Despite these high and increasing densities of predators, we found little evidence that predation limits populations of pigeons, woodpeckers and passerines, whereas evidence suggests that ground-nesting seabirds, waders and gamebirds can be limited by predation. Using life-history characteristics of prey species, we found that mainly long-lived species with high adult survival and late onset of breeding were limited by predation. Single-brooded species were also more likely to be limited by predation than multi-brooded species. Predators that depredate prey species during all life stages (i.e. from nest to adult stages) limited prey numbers more than predators that depredated only specific life stages (e.g. solely during the nest phase). The Red Fox and non-native mammals (e.g. the American Mink Neovison vison) were frequently identified as numerically limiting their prey species. Our review has identified predator-prey interactions that are particularly likely to result in population declines of prey species. In the short term, traditional predator-management techniques (e.g. lethal control or fencing to reduce predation by a small number of predator species) could be used to protect these vulnerable species. However, as these techniques are costly and time-consuming, we advocate that future research should identify land-use practices and landscape configurations that would reduce predator numbers and predation rates.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

et al. 2018

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“…From a single nest found in 1977, numbers increased to reach about 57 breeding pairs by 2004 (Wotton et al . 2018). It is this ability to increase rapidly in local areas, partly because of semi‐colonial nesting, that worries gamekeepers if they leave any pairs to nest undisturbed.…”

Section: Hen Harriermentioning

confidence: 99%

Killing of raptors on grouse moors: evidence and effects

Newton

2020

Ibis

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Owing to the intensity of game management in Britain, managers of grouse moors have illegally killed raptors to increase the numbers of Red Grouse Lagopus l. scotica available for shooting. This paper summarizes evidence for the recent scale of illegal raptor killing on grouse moors and its effects on populations. It provides insights into how raptors themselves respond demographically to different levels of killing. Over Britain as a whole, most raptors have increased and expanded considerably since the 1970s, in response to reduced killing and nest destruction, and the diminished impacts of organo‐chlorine pesticides; however, in recent decades the populations of some species have declined on and around grouse moors. This is widely evident in Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus and Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos populations and in more restricted areas also in Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis and Red Kite Milvus milvus populations, in all of which illegal killing has been sufficient to affect numbers over wider areas. The evidence consists mainly of: (1) greater disappearance of nesting pairs, lower breeding densities or reduced occupancy of apparently suitable traditional territories on grouse moors compared with other areas; (2) reduced nest success compared with other areas; (3) reduced adult survival compared with other areas; (4) reduced age of first breeding, reflecting the removal of adults from nesting territories and their replacement by birds in immature plumage; (5) greater levels of disappearance of satellite‐tracked birds on grouse moors than elsewhere; and (6) the finding of poisoned baits and traps, and shot or poisoned carcasses of raptors. Not all these types of evidence are available for every species, and other types of evidence are available for some. The Common Buzzard Buteo buteo is currently the most numerous raptor in Britain and also seems to be killed in the greatest numbers. Other raptor species, including Merlin Falco columbarius, Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus and Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus which nest on or near grouse moors, have little or no significant impact on grouse and are killed less often or not at all. In the absence of illegal killing, some raptor species breed as well or better on grouse moors than in other habitats. Merlins, in particular, seem to thrive on grouse moors, benefiting from the management involved (including predator control). Other aspects of illegal raptor killing are discussed, including suggestions for ways in which it might be reduced.

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“…On the other hand, our results showed that the abandonment of active management was associated with declines in Hen Harrier and Merlin breeding success as well as Hen Harrier abundance, which similarly impacted other ground-nesting birds of conservation concern (Baines et al 2008, Fletcher et al 2010, Ludwig et al 2019. Cessation of grouse moor management may also accelerate the loss of heather moorland (Robertson et al 2001), the predominant breeding habitat for both Hen Harrier and Merlin in the UK (Ewing et al 2011, Wotton et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…However, as juvenile Hen Harriers show little natal site fidelity (Watson 1977, Etheridge et al 1997, changes in breeding numbers are perhaps unlikely to be determined by local fledging success but more by external recruitment. The latter may have been limited by regional and national declines in range and abundance of Hen Harriers (Balmer et al 2013, Wotton et al 2018, which could also explain the delayed recovery in Hen Harrier numbers after grouse moor management resumed in 2008. Variation in abundance of adult Red Grouse, but not passerines or voles as shown in earlier studies Thirgood 1999, New et al 2011), may have further contributed to the observed changes in Hen Harrier numbers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term changes in the abundance and breeding success of raptors and ravens in periods of varying management of a Scottish grouse moor

Ludwig¹,

Roos²,

Rollie³

et al. 2020

ACE

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Management of heather moorland for driven Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) shooting in the British uplands may benefit some raptors by reducing predation risk, especially when breeding, and by increasing food availability. We describe changes in abundance and breeding success of four raptor species and Common Raven (Corvus corax) during a 27-year study on a grouse moor in southwest Scotland in relation to whether or not the moor was managed by gamekeepers. Ground-nesting raptors, Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and Merlin (Falco columbarius), increased during periods of grouse moor management and had a higher proportion of successful nesting attempts. Predation was the main apparent cause of breeding failure. In contrast, grouse moor management did not influence either abundance or breeding success of tree-and crag-nesting species, i.e., Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), and Raven. Buzzard sightings increased during the study, in line with their national recovery, whereas Peregrine and Raven showed little change in abundance. The results of our study highlight that management for Red Grouse can benefit both Hen Harrier and Merlin. However, on a UK scale these benefits to Hen Harriers, but not Merlin, are outweighed by their illegal killing, caused by fears that their consumption of Red Grouse can undermine the economics of grouse moor management. Busard Saint-Martin et au Faucon émerillon. Toutefois, à l'échelle du Royaume-Uni, ces avantages pour le busard, mais pas pour le Faucon émerillon, sont contrebalancés par son abattage illégal, causé par la crainte que leur consommation de lagopèdes puisse compromettre le marché économique de la gestion de la lande pour les lagopèdes.

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Status of the Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusin the UK and Isle of Man in 2016

Cited by 12 publications

References 27 publications

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator‐rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

Killing of raptors on grouse moors: evidence and effects

Long-term changes in the abundance and breeding success of raptors and ravens in periods of varying management of a Scottish grouse moor

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