Killing the Skydancer: episode one, Susie’s Chicks

In this special Age of Extinction mini-series from Science Weekly,
Guardian biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston explores the murky
world of the illegal killing of birds of prey on grouse moors and
asks why it is so difficult to solve these crimes. In episode one,
Phoebe hears about the case of Susie, a hen harrier whose chicks
were killed while being monitored on camera. As she starts to
investigate the case, she hears from conservationist Ruth Tingay
about why hen harriers are targeted and finds out about the
personal costs of campaigning on this issue This episode has been
updated from an earlier version which quoted RSPB data showing that
108 birds of prey were illegally killed 2021. Their report actually
says that there were 108 confirmed incidents of illegal persecution
in 2021. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod