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Harrier chicks soar: Record fledging at Cumbria reserve
18 Sep
Summary
- A record 13 hen harrier chicks fledged at RSPB Geltsdale.
- This marks the highest number in over 100 years of records.
- Illegal killings continue to threaten this endangered bird species.
In a significant conservation milestone, RSPB Geltsdale in Cumbria has recorded the highest number of fledged hen harrier chicks in over a century. Thirteen chicks from three nests have successfully left their nests, a cause for celebration given the species' endangered red-list status. This success at the reserve highlights dedicated conservation efforts.
However, the future remains uncertain for these protected birds. The RSPB notes that illegal killings have severely impacted hen harrier populations, making them one of the UK's most threatened birds of prey. The reserve's manager fears that hen harriers may still be targeted on grouse moors. This concern is underscored by the disappearance of two breeding males in 2025, suspected to be victims of illegal killing.
Conservation staff at Geltsdale have implemented strategies, such as setting up special feeding stations, to minimize predation on grouse. The 13 chicks born this season will be tagged to monitor their progress. Hen harriers were extinct in England by 1900, returning to the north Pennines in the 1950s, but continue to face illegal persecution.
