hen harrier

Aside from curlew, they pose a threat to a number of native species including the Orkney vole, short-eared owl and hen harrier.

They include endangered birds like hen harriers and water voles, which are now the UK's fastest declining mammal.

More than 1,300 protected birds of prey – from hen harriers to golden eagles - have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years, according to the RSPB.

The charity said eight, satellite-tagged hen harriers had been illegally killed or suspiciously disappeared from the Yorkshire Dales in the last year.

It has 20% of the UK's hen harriers, 11% of its breeding seabirds and vital populations of curlew, lapwing, and oystercatcher.