War Of Words As Harrier Vanishes

A satellite-tagged hen harrier disappeared on the Glorious Twelfth and RSPB Scotland has pointed the finger at grouse moor managers

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Rural groups have rejected claims that grouse moor managers were responsible for the disappearance of a hen harrier.

RSPB Scotland says a satellite-tagged bird, named Calluna, vanished over an Aberdeenshire grouse moor near Ballater when transmissions from the tag ended abruptly on the Glorious Twelfth.

Ian Thomson at RSPB Scotland said: “There is a depressing irony that Calluna disappeared on the first day of the grouse shooting season. This bird joins the lengthening list of satellite-tagged birds of prey that have disappeared, in highly suspicious circumstances, almost exclusively in areas intensively managed for grouse shooting.”