Nestverstoringen bij Blauwe Kiekendieven Circus cyaneus

The Hen Harrier is a rare breeding bird in The Netherlands, nearing its extinction rapidly. Only 19 pairs were recorded in 2009, of which 17 on the Wadden Sea Islands; this is just 15% of the numbers registered in 1994. On the island of Terschelling, two nests were disturbed in 2009. Both nests had been the focus of attention of photographers, as visible from the trampling of vegetation and the creation of clearly visible paths to the nest. One of these nests is supposed to have been raided for commercial purposes (chicks removed), at the other nest one of the chicks was found nearby, deliberately trampled to death. Both nests may have been easier to find by people with bad intentions because of the behaviour of photographers. Codes of conduct for photographers are now available from several organisations, and disturbances are therefore unnecessary.