Hen Harrier

In autumn 2005, we trapped a first-year female Hen Harrier with a black coulour-ring.
She turned out to be part of a survey started earlier that year carried out by SOVON and Vogelbescherming Nederland (the Dutch equivalent of the RSPB).
The species is in constant decline in the Netherlands and is now exclusively found on the West Frisian Islands. The survey has to shed some light on the migration between the islands and in 2005 and 2006 all fledgelings have been colour-ringed to be able to follow them around. In 2006, Texel already had six ringed females breeding, four from the island itself an two from Ameland.
At the same time Texel, Terschelling and Ameland are surveyed for breeding numbers and breeding success in correlation to prey choice.

"Our" girl was ringed on the nest at Ameland, being the first of the project, and we were happy to receive a picture of the event made by Johan Krol.
(Thanks to Lieuwe Dijksen of Sovon for aditional information)

   ·      ·      ·       ·      ·