10 August Hen Harrier Day
10 August Hen Harrier Day
Sixty years ago the Hen Harrier was granted full legal protection in the UK. It is a criminal offence to kill a Hen Harrier. How then can it be possible that there are now less Hen Harriers than sixty years ago, and virtually none in England? The answer, sadly, is very simple, systematic persecuation by those that have a vested interest in shooting Red Grouse. Gamekeepers, their employers and agents have killed Hen Harriers for sixty years! Well, we have had enough of this ILLEAGAL KILLING. Today, the 10th August 2014, is Hen Harrier Day and the start of the fight for Hen Harriers to return has begun. Gamekeepers and their employers who kill birds of prey have a fight on their hands and this fight will be won. Hen Harriers will fly over our moorlands again and today will be seen as the opening battle of the war!
What the sharp dressed harrier warrior is wearing.
On the road to Hen Harrier Day at Upper Derwent Valley.
The troops arrive, despite torrential driving rain, commitment!
The Hen Harrier Army had come prepared, Howard Broughton standard bearer.
Great to see MP, Barry Gardiner, adding his voice to the protest.
On one of the wettest days of the year the crowds still came to be counted.
Mark Avery and Chris Packham enthused the crowd with a we will win message!
The only harrier seen was Harry the Harrier, thanks to gamekeepers!
The creator of Harry, Findlay, gets a big thank you from Chris Packham.
A fantastic turn out for the first ever Hen Harrier Day, this just one of many events taking place across the UK, amazing considering the awful weather! People care and want Hen Harriers back on our moors.
Chris Packham's speech to the assembled crowd was inspiring, Chris likened the Hen Harrier to a fine painting, a Constable perhaps? An item to be treasured and passed down to future generations, what would you think of a person who blasted a Constable painting with a shotgun? Well Hen Harriers suffer this fate regularly on grouse moors and it is high time it stopped!
Many, many people are behind the Hen Harrier and if we all act then we will win and the harriers can fly again over the moors for us and future generations to marvel at and take joy from. Stand up and be counted!
For information about how you can help the Hen Harrier see....
Birders Against Wildlife Crime who took the lead in Hen Harrier Day
http://birdersagainst.org/projects/hen-harrier-day/
Please read Mark Avery's very informative blog.....
http://markavery.info/blog/
Having had a good read please take action to help Hen Harriers! One easy way to help is to sign the petition to ban driven grouse moors. This is a great way to put pressure on grouse moor owners to stop breaking the law and stop killing our birds of prey!
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65627
Over thirteen thousand, yes 13,000, people have signed already and many more will today following the Hen Harrier Day. Please be one of them and stand up for our birds, thank you!