Breeding birds first returned to the Scottish mainland in 1939, and by the 1950s were firmly re-established. The years 1968-72 saw the first breeding records this century for Co Durham, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cardiganshire and Norfolk. This increase has not continued . The New Atlas of Breeding Birds 1988-91 notes that the hen harrier population has probably remained the same in Scotland but has declined in England and Wales. Unfortunately, at the current level of persecution and rate of habitat loss, there must be genuine grounds for concern about the long-term future of this much vilified but spectacular raptor.
Hen harriers are remarkably bold in defence of their nests, so are easy to shoot .
Figures from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds suggest that for populations to be at the level they are, 55-74 female hen harriers would have to be killed by humans each year. One much-publicised incident this year took place on the RSPB's Geltsdale nature reserve, on the borders of Northumberland and Cumbria. Here a hen harrier was found dead, poisoned by mevinphos, an insecticide that has been banned since 1991. Poisoned baits were found close to another harrier s nest on the reserve and two harrier nests failed due to the unexplained disappearance of the adults. Finding a workable compromise between conflicting interests is the major challenge facing conservationists .