The hen harrier is a small bird of prey that is historically found in upland habitats. It is a beautiful bird to see but unfortunately the species is in real trouble in the UK. It has been persecuted for decades due to competition with humans and last year there was only one nesting pair found in the whole of England.

Nature Talks and Walks recently visited BBC Radio Lancashire and the John Gillmore show to talk about why the species has declined and what state it’s currently in.

Although it may seem we are about to lose the Hen Harrier to local extinction, there may still be a chance to save the species. One of the biggest aspects in saving a species is knowing how many individuals there are, where they are and what they’re doing. This can be a daunting task for conservationists, but this is a brilliant way for anyone from the public to get involved in saving the species.

If you think you’ve spotted a hen harrier whilst walking, you can report your sighting here: Skydancer Conservation. You can also report red kite sightings here: Redkites.net.

Don’t forget…

Leave a question or comment below about the plight of the hen harrier and you could be featured in next week’s blog. You can also send your wildlife pictures to:

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Take care, and stay on the wild side.

Russ