Raptor Aid Grant Fund & Short Eared Owl Tag Fund

Raptor Aid CIO is pleased to announce the launch of its 2024 grant fundraiser in part aiming to support the North of England Raptor Forum to fund satellite tags for their first project tagging Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus).

Short-eared owl. Copyright Gary Jones Wildlife Photography.

About Raptor Aid

Raptor Aid CIO (1177127) is a UK-based registered charity with a focus on educating the public on birds of prey and their conservation along with supporting individuals and organisations in protecting and conserving birds of prey and their habitats.

We can't escape the reality that we are living in a period of huge biodiversity loss and birds of prey are just as vulnerable as any species. Raptor Aid is made up of optimists and we believe people when given the opportunity, resources and chance to collaborate can make a real difference. That is why we have developed our grant fund to invest in people and organisations who want to continue making a positive impact on bird of prey conservation.

Mateo Giraldo - A raptor biologist from Colombia was one of the first recipients of our collaborative Discovering Raptors canopy access grant.

The Grant Fund

Raptor Aid is no stranger to providing support to individuals and projects and since 2021 we have quietly gone about providing small grants as we came across individuals and organisations who needed it & when our funds allow. We have helped fund South American raptor biologists training to safely climb trees to carry out their research (See Mateo above), funded colour rings for several species (See Katie below), part-funded an x-ray machine for raptor rehabilitation in Kenya and provided funding for nest boxes in the UK plus much more.

We know first-hand the value and impact small grants can have and that is why we have decided to increase our grant fund and open it up so anyone can apply for a small grant. You can check out our website to find out more about the application process. You can also find out more about the individuals and projects we have helped previously and why your donation makes such a difference.

Katie Harrington is a raptor biologist studying Striated caracaras on the Falkland Isles using colour rings purchased with a grant.

We love to collaborate especially when it comes to making a difference in our natural world, we believe it is the only way forward. That is why as part of this grant fundraiser we are teaming up with the North of England Raptor Forum (NERF) to help fund satellite tags for their first project.

The North of England Raptor Forum

NERF are a collective voice of raptor workers and their respective regional raptor study groups working together for birds of prey. Collectively these groups and their members amass thousands of hours each season out in the field gathering important data on birds of prey in the UK. One such species is the Short-eared owl, a nomadic, far-wandering bird that is declining across its UK range.

Short-eared owl - Copyright Allan Holmes

The Short-eared Owl Tagging Project

The Short-eared owl is a Pan-European species that due to its nomadic lifestyle can roam thousands of km each year meaning they are truly continental birds. Monitoring populations and changes in them can prove incredibly difficult but as shown by the BTO technology can help. Satellite tags have opened up a new world to understanding the movements of this species but each tag and its annual data doesn't come cheap, a single tag and data costs £3000.

Satellite tags will allow field workers to understand how Short-eared owls use the British landscape and if they remain here year-round. The data from these tags will also allow field workers to collaborate with the European Short-eared owl network to better protect the species and the habitats they require.

Unfortunately in the UK, another risk faced by these owls is illegal persecution. Satellite tags have already been shown to be critical in highlighting the systematic targeting of many upland bird of prey species including Short-eared owls. Satellite tagging birds not only provides scientific data but puts a spotlight on them should they become victims of illegal persecution. You can read more about some of the cases involving illegally persecuted Short-eared owls on NERF's website HERE and HERE.

A Short-eared owl that had been shot. Broomhill, Peaks 2022. Copyright RSPB Investigations.

We aim to use this fundraiser to fund 3 satellite tags for NERF. The tags will be deployed under licence by trained members of NERF and the data will go towards a better understanding of this amber-listed species. Updates will be available via our website and NERF on the project.

A brood of Short-eared owl chicks monitored by a NERF member group.

Thank you!

As you can see conservation costs money, but be assured that your donation to this fund no matter the size will go directly into supporting conservationists and projects to conserve birds of prey. If you're a UK taxpayer please don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box during the donation process so Raptor Aid can make your donation go further. Please also help us by sharing this page with your friends.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and donate to this fund - you can find out more about the work of Raptor Aid, track the people and projects we support and learn more about amazing birds of prey by signing up for our newsletter and following us on socials.

You can find out more about NERF by clicking HERE.

Copyright Gary Jones Wildlife Photography.