A Hen Harrier has disappeared in suspicious circumstances raising fears of illegal persecution. 

The young female, named Helius, hatched last summer in Bowland.

While still in her nest, Helius was fitted with a satellite tag which allowed the RSPB to monitor her movements after fledging.  

Her tag showed her to be exploring the wider Bowland area, spending time on the United Utilities estate and neighbouring moorland.

She even went on to have chicks of her own, producing a brood of five chicks this summer on United Utilities land, three of which fledged. 

Her chicks having left, on July 31 Helius was at a location on the boundary of a United Utilities Estate between Brennand Fell and Tarnbrook Fell.

The next day, her tag, which had been performing reliably, failed to transmit. It has been silent ever since. 

The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and Lancashire Police were informed and a search was conducted, but they found no trace of Helius or her tag.  

Hen Harriers are rare breeding birds in the UK, known for their acrobatic ‘skydancing’ courtship display.

Illegal persecution over recent decades has reduced the population of this species to a fraction of what it ought to be.

In England, there were 25 successful nests in 2024, down from 36 in 2023.

The RSPB has been tagging Hen Harriers for over a decade to help with conservation efforts for this elusive and heavily-persecuted species.

In 2023, 34 tagged birds were either killed or disappeared in suspicious circumstances, many of them in connection with land managed for driven grouse shooting. This is more than in any other year to date. 

A scientific study published in the journal Biological Conservation found that survival rates of Hen Harriers were ‘unusually low’, and illegal killing was identified as a major cause.

Howard Jones, RSPB Senior Investigations Officer, said: “Satellite tags continue to transmit even after a bird dies, allowing us to locate the bird’s body.

“But when a tag suddenly stops transmitting, with no sign of malfunction, and then cannot be located, this is deemed highly suspicious. We suspect human interference in this case. 

“Helius’ fate is by no means a one-off. Too many of these birds are disappearing in suspicious circumstances, and it is having a heavy impact on the species as a whole.” 

Mark Harrison, Detective Inspector at the NWCU, said: “Bird of prey crime is a UK National Wildlife Crime Priority, and crimes involving Hen Harriers and other birds of prey has no place in modern society.

“The public plays an important role in reporting intelligence and suspected crimes to the police.” 

If you notice a dead or injured bird of prey in suspicious circumstances, call the police on 101 and fill in the RSPB’s online reporting form www.rspb.org.uk/report-crimes.  

If you have information about anyone killing birds of prey which you wish to report anonymously, call the RSPB’s confidential Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.