Langholm Harriers update

 

 

All four of the Langholm harriers are doing well. The birds are utilising an area approximately 12kms x 6kms. So far Miranda and Grainne have pretty much stuck together. Blue has been the more mobile of the juveniles moving 49.813 km in the week up to 25th August; Grainne 31.345km, Miranda 27.71 km and Hattie 21.36km.  The figures for distance travelled are the absolute minimum distance between the most accurate fixes, the birds will have travelled significantly further than the totals quoted. Miranda has made a slight foray over the A7, the next batch of data may tell us if this a temporary excursion or the start of a shift out of the natal area.

Harrier movements update 22nd August

All the young harriers are doing ok and still in the Langholm moor area. Hattie (117314) left the natal area yesterday for the first time and was tracked heading towards her sibling Blue (117316). The sisters Grainne (117313) and Miranda (117315) have established a definable home range on the western flanks of Roan Fell.

On the evening of the 22nd, the neighbouring broods finally crossed paths. Grainne (11713) and Hattie (117314)  were tracked simultaneously in the same air space..

August 2013 Harriers on the move.. almost

The young birds are now at the pioneer stage of exnatal dispersal. By this stage we'd expect the young harriers to be fully independent, killing their own prey and making mock stoops at anything that moves. Sociality between adult females and their offspring has been recorded up to 30km from the nest, however, the majority of young harriers go it alone soon after they start to roost away from the nest. The data this year has provided a good opportunity to look at whether the broods from the different nests interacted and apart from one or two weak fixes, it appears that there was little overlap in their home ranges.

117316 Blue (male)
117315 Miranda (female)
117314 Hattie (female)
117313 Grainne (female)

 

Hen Harrier Update: All four satellite-tagged harrier chicks are spreading their wings but remain close to their nest sites with their parents and siblings.