The 2024 Christmas Satellite Tag Appeal has beaten its target for the second year running, thanks to the astonishing generosity of our supporters!

The 2023 Christmas Appeal raised enough money to fund satellite tags, and the tracking and monitoring, for four young Hen Harriers that fledged in the summer of 2024, seen here with their tags in place.

Working with RSPB fieldworkers and their partners, all four were successfully tagged and left their natal areas during July and August.

Close monitoring by RSPB Investigations Officers allows us to know that, at the time of writing (January 2025), all four are alive and well in their winter roosting areas.

One of the four, Welsh-born Adar, has even crossed the English Channel and is wintering in North West France near Le Mans!

What’s more, we now know from the covert footage of gamekeepers on the moors captured by the RSPB, and broadcast by Channel 4 News in October, that the satellite tags offer a measure of protection from persecution too, with criminals reluctant to shoot ‘boxed’ (tagged) birds.

So the outcome of the 2024 Appeal, meaning that we can fund the tagging of even more Hen Harriers in 2025, is welcome news indeed!

Four young Hen Harriers satellite tagged in 2024

From everyone here at Hen Harrier Action, we want to express our grateful thanks for your continued support, donations and warm-hearted generosity in helping us to protect more of these charismatic skydancing Hen Harriers from harm