Hen Harrier Day Wales/ Diwrnod Boda Tinwen Cymru

Thank you everyone for tuning in and watching, if you missed it, here it is

https://www.facebook.com/MEscapes/videos/281288396459863/

July 18th 2020

At 12pm on July 18th the first Hen Harrier Day in Wales will take place. Originally planned to be held at Plas y Brenin National Outdoor centre but now to be an online event due to Covid 19 restrictions.

A 2016 survey reported that there were 36 pairs of Hen Harriers in Wales. Numbers have increased slowly, now thought to be at around 41 pairs. The majority of the UK’s 500 pairs are in Scotland, although it is claimed that the UK habitat could sustain at least 2500 pairs.

So, what is happening to them?

Join us to find out more about Hen Harriers, raptor persecution in the UK and what you can do to help.

The day will consist of talks and presentations by various people (see below) and also a prize draw for the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Talkers

We will be joined by the following people to give talks. (please note that order of talks is yet to be finalised)

Naturalist and BBC Springwatch presenter, Chris Packham. Welsh naturalist, and BBC Springwatch presenter, Iolo Williams. Dr Ruth Tingay, Raptor Persecution UK and Wild Justice. Dr Cathleen Thomas, RSPB Hen Harrier LIFE Project manager, Alan Davies (Birdwatching Trips). Dan Rouse, Welsh conservationist, TV presenter and ornithologist and Rob Taylor, head of North Wales Police rural crime team.

Program

• 12.00-12.05 Introduction
• 12.05-12.30. Iolo Williams. The history of Hen Harriers in Wales, recolonisation and persecution.
• 12.50-13.05. Dr Cathleen Thomas. Join us to find out more about the RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE project, which ran from 2014 to 2020. We’ll tell you a bit more about our work in Wales, and our hopes for the future of Welsh hen harriers.
• 13.15-13.30. Alan Davies. The magical experience of watching Hen Harriers on Welsh moorlands, a sight which everybody should have the chance to see. He will then move on to highlight the terrible persecution of these spectacular birds and will wrap up with how we can all help Hen Harriers by spreading the word about these fantastic endangered birds.
• 13.40-13.55. Dr Ruth Tingay. Topic to be confirmed.
• 14.05-14.20. Rob Taylor. Topic to be confirmed.
• 14.30-14.45. Dan Rouse. Young people and Hen harriers: what has been achieved and what people can work towards doing if they want to get involved in helping hen harriers.
• 15.00-15.45. Chris Packham. Topic to be confirmed.
• 16.00. Thanks/ Close.

There will be short gap in between talkers for your chance to ask any questions and to give us time to swap over. (All times subject to change)

If you think poisoning, trapping and shooting birds of prey is consigned to the history books, then think again!! The day is all about raising public awareness of raptor persecution in this country and the Hen Harrier has become a symbol of this being one of the most persecuted of them all. How many people have even heard of Hen Harrier never mind spotted one. To see one ‘Skydancing’ has to be one of the most amazing natural sights you can witness in the UK. A roller-coaster flight of a male trying to impress a potential mate.

How To Join In And Watch

We will be streaming it all live on Facebook. All you have to do is click this link at 12pm on 18th July and sit back and watch. https://www.facebook.com/MEscapes/. You will be able to ask questions throughout the day in the comments section. We will endeavour to answer as many as possible.

Prize Draw

We have some great prizes to give away

• Lightweight cubes by Osprey Packs
• Super light chair by Helinox Europe
• Glamping book from Love Beddgelert – Caru Beddgelert
• A days guided bird watching for 2 with Birdwatching Trips
• Owl nest box from Raptor Aid
• 2 day REC first aid course from http://www.snowdoniafirstaid.co.uk/
• Guided mountain day in Snowdonia for up to 4 people with Mountain Escapes
• Guided nature walk with Julian Cartwright Mountain Adventures
• Rock climbing/ scrambling day with Higher Climbing Wales
• His and hers fleece from Sprayway
• Bobble hats and Camelbak water bottle from Trekmates
• Challenge trip voucher from Go Below Underground Adventures
• Nalgene Bottle and cacoon festival blanket from First Ascent
• Lifeventure thermal mug, RFid wallet, glowsticks, waterproof tablet case and bumbag from https://www.lifemarque.co.uk/
• Blizzard bag, blizzard jacket and blizzard blanket from Blizzard Protection Systems
• 3 hour falconry experience for 2 from Falconry Experience Wales
• £200 voucher off wildlife tour with Natoura Voyage
• 2-3 hour raptor photography experience from Rockcliffe Raptors
• 2 tickets to the National Botanic Garden and The British Bird of Prey Centre which will include a 30 minute flying experience with a Red Kite or Owl. From https://www.britishbirdofpreycentre.co.uk/
• A3 print of Glaslyn chick White YA, hatched 2007 and is now the breeding male at Keilder Forest, nest 1A. From https://www.glaslynwildlife.co.uk/

Anyone who makes a donation will be entered into the prize draw. You choose how much you want to donate. All proceeds will be shared between the Glaslyn Osprey Project and Raptor Aid. All donations greatly received and we will post all info in due course. To make a donation please click here, you will be directed to the Eventbrite platform where you can make a safe, secure payment.

Donations can be made up till 11.30pm on 18th July. We will do the draw live on Sunday 19th.

Thank you.

We hope to see you on the day, please like and share so we can reach as many people as possible.

Thanks

I would like to thank all the speakers who have given up their valuable time. Thank you very much to Plas y Brenin for offering us the space to host the event, sorry it didn’t work out, we will be back next year. Thanks to Julian Cartwright for your assistance in organising the day and to Mike Raine for your help in coordinating with Plas y Brenin and helping to spread the word. Last but not least, a massive thank you to all those that have donated a prize.