Hen Harrier Surveys

Hen Harriers breed on upland sites with bog, scrub and young forestry plantations and are very sensitive to disturbance. Developments in these kinds of habitats have been few and far between in the past but in recent years they have offered ideal conditions for wind farm developments and surveys are often required to determine whether a site is used by Hen Harrier.

Hen Harrier surveys are generally carried out using fixed point surveys during the summer months. In contrast to the counts undertaken for wintering birds, surveyors wait at a particular vantage point for a set period of time (several hours) and count any birds seen during that defined period. Further information such as direction and height of flight and behaviour is often required.