The hen harrier is one of our most alluring raptors – with the male’s skydancing courtship display one of nature’s great sights.

The Heads Up for Harriers project aims to better understand the threats facing Scotland’s hen harriers –and ultimately promote recovery of the species – by working in partnership with land managers.
Found mainly across moorland throughout Scotland, hen harrier numbers were around 500 pairs in 2010. In many areas they are now struggling to breed, or absent.  Elsewhere in the UK they are faring even worse. Factors accounting for these changes in distribution and numbers across Britain include illegal persecution, land use changes resulting in losses of moorland nesting habitat and feeding range, and predation of eggs and young by foxes, crows and other predators.

Have you seen hen harriers?
We want a clearer picture of where hen harriers are being seen in early spring and then evidently disappearing later on. There may be several reasons for this: They may simply have moved on for natural reasons, or been harassed and forced to move (which is illegal); or
Birds may have been killed naturally by large predators such as golden eagles and foxes, or illegally by people; or
Harriers may have settled to nest and then been overlooked (they can be inconspicuous).

How can you help?
We are looking to members of the public to report any sightings of hen harriers.

What would we like you to do?
We would like your records sent to us as follows:
Hen harriers seen? Male / female / pair together?
Behaviour? Was the bird flying low when hunting (they quarter just a couple of metres above the ground, dropping quickly on a vole, young rabbit or small bird), or higher up moving from one area to another. Was it calling by ‘chittering’, or skydancing?
Place, date and time of sighting? Six figure grid reference ideally (or details of location e.g. name from OS map of the nearest hill or burn, footpath, road or other details so that we could revisit the area to make follow-up observations where needed), with date and time.
You can report sightings by phone to 07767 671973, email to: HenHarrier@snh.gov.uk (it’s not case sensitive), or post to: Heads up for Harriers, Scottish Natural Heritage, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness IV3 8NW
If e-mailing sightings please make sure you provide your name, contact email and phone number so we can get in touch to follow up your sighting. 

find more information at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/paw-scotland/what-you-can-do/hen-harriers