Work carried out by Aberdeen University researchers has given new insight into a longstanding conflict between commercial shooters and conservation groups.
Ecological studies over the last 30 years have shown that hen harriers and other birds of prey are capable of eating enough grouse to make the grouse shooting sport become economically unviable.
Hen harriers have been protected under UK legislation since 1952 and end up being killed illegally on grouse moors.
The new study highlighted the fact that shooting organisations, in contrast to people associated with conservation groups, held a view of human mastery of nature and prioritised human wellbeing over the rights of wildlife.
They supported brood management measures such as removing eggs and young birds from nests to be reared in captivity so they could be fed different types of food.
Conservation groups disagreed.
However, the majority of people from both sides of the argument could agree on supporting “diversionary feeding” where humans left food near nests for parents to provide to their chicks.
The report states: “To date, this is the only management technique that has been trialled and found to be effective at reducing the number of red grouse chicks eaten by hen harriers.
“Despite this, feeding has not been widely taken up on grouse moors.”
It notes that conservation groups had withdrawn from further discussions on the future of hen harrier management, partly because the species continued to be killed illegally and had almost disappeared as a breeding species in England.
The survey findings will be presented at the British Ecological Society annual meeting tomorrow.