Highland Foundation for Wildlife

Marsh Harrier

The Tay estuary is the Scottish stronghold of this charismatic bird of  prey, and the sight of a huge female with its characteristic V wing slow motion glide hanging over the reeds is a sure sign of the good health and sound management of this, the largest reedbed in Britain.


In 2004, Steve Moyes and Harry Bell and colleagues in the Tay  Ringing Group, who had been studying the Tay marsh harriers since  the 1980s, joined with Roy Dennis of the Highland Foundation to fit  a satellite transmitter on one chick to find out more about the  migration to Africa. It was tracked to Senegal and The Gambia. See 2004 migration.

In 2006, we fitted two young with satellite transmitters to carry out further research but no further radios have been deployed in 2007.

see 2006 Migration

Male Hunting

Chick 21197 in nest with rest of brood

Male parent of 21197 bringing in food