Hen and Montagu’s Harriers have always been victims in many European
Countries and France
is no exception. Historically they have
been persecuted and killed simply for being birds of prey, something which
affected many other raptor species until they were given protection in 1976 but
unfortunately this wasn't the end of their troubles.
Both Hen and Montagu’s Harrier are birds that like wide open
spaces, heath land and plains and it is in these habitats that they make their
nests on the ground in low to medium height vegetation and this has lead them
into trouble as natural open habitat has disappeared to be replaced
increasingly with cereal cultivation. This wasn’t too much of a handicap when
crops were more diverse, spring sown and the land was worked with small
machines or by hand. The birds adapted to using wheat, barley and pea fields without
too many problems, (other than the persecution), then the so called green
revolution started, autumn sown barley and wheat crops were developed and there
was the introduction of oil seed rape, also autumn sown in France. Farm
machinery keeps increasing in size and crops are harvested earlier in the year
which in most years will be before the chicks have fledged leading to large
losses as they are chopped up.
Here in Poitou-Charentes we host more than 20% of the entire
French nesting population for these species as can be seen from the maps and
with this in mind Groupe ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres, the LPO Vienne, LPO
Charente Maritime and Charente Nature participate in protection schemes funded
by the EU, State and Region in the zones that are considered most important having
been given Natura2000 status.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Map showing Hen Harrier nesting in France
Map showing Montagu's Harrier nesting in France
Both maps courtesy of Rapaces nicheurs de France ISBN 2-603-01313-0
Huge
amounts of time are spent building relationships with farmers attempting to
convince them of the importance of taking part in measures to protect the nests
and young on their land in return for modest financial compensation. Most of
the day to day work is carried out by volunteers that observe the birds in
spring to record birds that are paired and where the nest site is located.
Initially this means observing mating displays and aerial prey passing followed
later by males carrying prey in their talons which they bring to near the nest
site for the female. She will either fly up and the prey will be passed to her
or the male will place it on the ground a short distance away and she will
fetch it. Having noted where she flies up from it is then possible to locate the
nest and mark it with poles allowing continued monitoring with ringing or wing
tagging of young birds in some cases.
Unfortunately this year between 25th and 26th
June the nests of four Monatgu’s Harriers were systematically destroyed with
the loss of 17 young birds. These nests had been fenced with chicken wire and
there were no signs or traces left that would indicate any form of natural
predation. As the Montagu’s Harrier is a fully protected bird the LPO will be
lodging a formal criminal complaint against “X” (person or persons unknown). Sadly this follows on from a very poor breeding
years for both species in both 2012 and 2013 as a result of cold, wet weather
conditions and a crash in the vole populations with many pairs simply not even
nesting.
Destroyed Montagu's Harrier nest - LPO Vienne
Hen Harriers are more or less resident here in
Poitou-Charentes with some birds moving to the south or to Spain
in winter. Current estimates are for between 7,800 11,200 breeding couples in France .
Montagu’s Harriers migrate to West Africa
for winter where they reside on Savannah
and can form roosts in the thousands. Current estimates are for around 3,900
and 5,100 breeding couples in France .
Diet for both species comprises rodents, small birds,
insects, amphibians, reptiles, rabbits.
Chris