War Of Words As Harrier Vanishes

A satellite-tagged hen harrier disappeared on the Glorious Twelfth and RSPB Scotland has pointed the finger at grouse moor managers

Rural groups have rejected claims that grouse moor managers were responsible for the disappearance of a hen harrier.

RSPB Scotland says a satellite-tagged bird, named Calluna, vanished over an Aberdeenshire grouse moor near Ballater when transmissions from the tag ended abruptly on the Glorious Twelfth.

Ian Thomson at RSPB Scotland said: “There is a depressing irony that Calluna disappeared on the first day of the grouse shooting season. This bird joins the lengthening list of satellite-tagged birds of prey that have disappeared, in highly suspicious circumstances, almost exclusively in areas intensively managed for grouse shooting.”