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Quarter of hen harrier chicks vanished in ‘suspicious circumstances’
Scotland has seen a 57 per cent decline on grouse moors since 2010.
RSPB releases data on satellite-tagged birds in Scotland

Over a quarter of hen harrier chicks disappeared in suspicious circumstances last year, according to data from satellite-tagged birds.

The RSPB said tags on some birds suddenly stopped transmitting, despite working perfectly beforehand. One bird’s tag abruptly stopped transmitting over a grouse moor near Ballater on 12 August last year, while another pair of birds disappeared over grouse moors in northern England.

Meanwhile, almost 40 per cent of the birds tagged in 2017 are known to have died from natural causes. Tags continue to transmit after the birds are dead, so the remains can often be recovered and post mortems carried out. The data shows some birds had died from predation, while others had starved.

Birds are tagged as part of the EU-funded Hen Harrier LIFE project, which is now in its fourth year. This year, the RSPB has so far tagged 30 birds - an unprecedented number. The tags allow conservationists to gather valuable information on the birds’ movements and cause of death.

Hen harrier chicks have a survival rate of just 22 per cent in the first two years of life and the species has declined by 24 per cent in the UK since 2004. Scotland has seen a 57 per cent decline on grouse moors since 2010. Conservationists say illegal persecution is having a hugely detrimental impact on hen harrier numbers.

Dr Cathleen Thomas, project manager for the LIFE project, said: “This species is only just holding on in the UK; it’s both heart-breaking and infuriating that year after year many of these chicks disappear in suspicious circumstances. The loss of birds in this way is both needless and senseless and cannot go on.”

An independent enquiry is currently underway, having been commissioned by Scottish cabinet secretary Roseanna Cunningham to find out how grouse moors can be managed within the law and explore options for its regulation. The panel is expected to report back in spring 2019.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.