Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2021 to Question 133641 on Hen Harriers, how many hen harrier nests there were on (a) RSPB and (b) non-RSPB reserves in each of the last five years, and what information her Department holds on (a) how many failed to have any chicks fledge and (b) what the reasons were for such failures.

Over the last five years there have been eight hen harrier nests on RSPB reserves (all Geltsdale). Based on information held by Natural England there were:

• None in 2018 or 2019.
• In 2020 two nesting attempts failed, likely due to the disappearance of the breeding male.
• 2021 three nesting attempts, one successful and two failed, likely due to disappearance of breeding males.
• 2022 three nesting attempts, one successful and two failed, likely due to disappearance of breeding males.

On non-RSPB reserves,

• Nine successful nests in 2018 and five failed nesting attempts. Three were thought to be predated, and two were deserted.
• Twelve successful nests in 2019, and three failed nesting attempts. These nests likely failed due to poor weather conditions.
• Nineteen successful nests in 2020, and three failed nesting attempts. Two of these nests were abandoned and one likely failed due to predation.
• Twenty-three successful nests in 2021, and five failed nesting attempts. Three likely failed due to predation, one failed when the adults disappeared, one was unknown.
• Thirty-three successful nests in 2022, and thirteen failed nesting attempts. The thirteen attempts failed due to a variety of reasons, including predation and the adults disappearing. The dead chicks in two failed nests tested positive for Avian Influenza, and one nest is being investigated for illegal human activity.