A record number of hen harrier chicks have fledged at an RSPB reserve in Cumbria, marking the best breeding season for the species at the site in over a century. At RSPB Geltsdale, located in the remote North Pennines, conservation efforts have resulted in 13 young hen harriers successfully fledging, a notable milestone for one of the country’s most endangered birds of prey.

RSPB Geltsdale encompasses a diverse upland habitat characterized by blanket bog, heath, grassland, meadows, woodland, and rolling hills. Hen harriers nest within the heather of upland moorlands and primarily prey on small grouse and other game birds, which often places them in conflict with managed grouse moors and gamekeepers.

Historically, hen harriers were hunted to extinction in England by 1900 but began to reestablish a presence in the North Pennines during the 1950s. Despite conservation advances, illegal persecution of the species persists, threatening their recovery. Ian Ryding, manager of the reserve, acknowledged the fledging of 13 chicks as a cause for celebration but underscored the ongoing threat posed by unlawful killings. “More needs to be done to stop the illegal killing of these special birds,” he said.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is advocating for the introduction of licensing for gamebird shooting across the UK. The organisation argues that such regulation would hold estate owners legally accountable for wildlife crimes on their properties and could help curb the illegal persecution of hen harriers and other protected birds.

Despite the positive breeding results at Geltsdale, conservationists remain concerned that without stronger enforcement and legislative measures, ongoing conflicts on grouse moors will continue to hamper the species’ recovery efforts.