Stop the illegal killing of hen harriers
News from the RSPB site
The RSPB is concerned that reports of the illegal killing of two hen harriers at Dersingham Bog on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk will put further pressure on the UK's most persecuted bird of prey.
These reports come at a time when the RSPB is campaigning to end the illegal killing of birds of prey. Only a year ago we welcomed the formation of a National Wildlife Crime Unit. Now, with funding under siege and the dedicated Police initiative launched to tackle the illegal killing of hen harriers, Operation Artemis wound up, our early optimism is looking ill-founded.
The Chief Constable's comments about hen harrier persecution can be viewed here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/media/brunstrom.asp
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's director of conservation, is all too familiar with incidents of illegal killing of hen harriers in the uplands during the bird's breeding season; 'these magnificent birds have been wiped out in mainland Britain once. They continue to nest in England purely because of the commitment of a small number of landowners backed by the dedicated support of RSPB staff and other conservationists. We can't relax our vigilance or these birds will be driven from England once more. It is alarming if we are seeing the illegal killing spreading from the bird's breeding areas to the places they spend the winter'.
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