Question reference: S6W-13314
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 December 2022
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Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 January 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12331 by Lorna Slater on 5 December 2022, for what reason it does not hold information on the number of successful hen harrier nests on RSPB and non-RSPB nature reserves in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and whether it will take steps to obtain this information prior to introducing any legislation on the licensing of grouse moors.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not routinely collate or hold this data. Details of hen harrier nest sites on RSPB and non-RSPB nature reserves are collated and analysed through the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme coordinated by British Trust for Ornithology. Annual data from 2016-2020 relating to the breeding success of hen harrier nest sites are available from their website at Hen Harrier | Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme
The Scottish Government does not believe it is necessary to hold information on the number of successful and unsuccessful hen harrier nest sites on RSPB and non-RSPB nature reserves prior to introducing any legislation on the licensing of grouse moors.