Three of Our Four 2025 Satellite Tagged Hen Harriers Have Died, At Least One Under Suspicious Circumstances
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of three of the four Hen Harriers, tagged this summer thanks to donations from our supporters. We’ve just been informed by the RSPB (and have permission to release the news) that Frigg, a female fledged on the Isle of Man and fitted with her tag on the 8th July, has stopped transmitting in Cumbria. According to the RSPB, there is no reason to believe that her death is suspicious, but it is nevertheless devastating news. Her death has been reported to the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Henrietta Blown Off Course While Crossing the Channel
Henrietta’s death is even more tragic. Fledged from the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, and satellite tagged on the 22nd July, she was blown off course while attempting to cross the English Channel to safer winter quarters in France.
Henrietta’s last five days’ movements, shown on the map here, have her travelling down from Northern England and heading across the Channel from Cornwall, before being blown North West and tiring mid-way between the UK and Greenland, where remarkably her satellite tag continued to transmit post-mortem, unlike birds that vanish without trace on grouse moors.
Circe Reported to NWCU and Police Scotland as a Suspicious Death in the Scottish Borders
Female Hen Harrier Circe was also born at the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, one of four siblings from the same brood. She was monitored by the Dumfries & Galloway Raptor Study Group and tagged on the 21st June by RSPB staff , and she was last active in the Scottish Borders area. As is normally the case when suspicious deaths are reported to the authorities, the RSPB do not release more precise information to avoid prejudicing any active police investigation. However, we have obtained permission to publish an appeal for information in the area where Circe’s satellite tag last transmitted (Stop, No Malfunction).
Just Four Months After Fledging, Only One of Our Four Tagged Hen Harriers Remains Alive
Nothing illustrates more clearly the precarious nature of the first few months of life for our young Hen Harriers than this devastating loss.
Barely four months since these four birds were fitted with satellite tags funded by Hen Harrier Action supporters, only one, a young female named Clara, remains alive. Satellite tagged by the RSPB on the Inner Hebridean isle of Colonsay on the 16th June, having been monitored by the Argyll Raptor Study Group, she has remained close to her natal area ever since.
The loss of these three young birds so early in their lives, before they had even had the chance to find a mate, is keenly felt by all of us, and we will continue to work tirelessly to improve the prospects for this iconic bird of prey. We also hope that, with prompt action from the NWCU and Police Scotland, we will soon be able to bring you more news about the suspicious death of Circe and the outcome of the investigation.
If you would like to donate to help satellite tag more Hen Harriers, you can do so below.