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UK's Rarest Bird Raises Six Chicks
24 Aug
Summary
- Six Montagu's harrier chicks successfully fledged this year.
- A male harrier, known as AU, bred with two females.
- Chicks were satellite-tagged to track migration to West Africa.
Conservationists celebrated a significant breeding season for the UK's rarest bird, the Montagu's harrier, with six chicks successfully fledged from nests at a secret English location. This follows a successful nesting in the same area last year, where four chicks were raised.
The male harrier, identified as 'AU' and ringed in 2016, successfully bred with two new females, resulting in two nests each raising three chicks. This male is considered crucial for the species' survival in the UK.
Montagu's harriers migrate from Africa to nest in Europe, often choosing agricultural fields. Their numbers have declined significantly, with only nine successful nests recorded in 2011 and a period of no successful breeding between 2020 and 2024. The species is listed as 'red list' for birds at high risk.
Conservation efforts included protecting nests from ground predators with fences and carefully monitoring the birds. In a UK first, two young female harriers were fitted with lightweight satellite tags. These tags will provide daily insights into their 7,000-mile migration back to West Africa, aiding survival and return-to-UK studies.
Conservationists are appealing to the public to report sightings of the untagged juveniles as they depart the UK, providing a vital contribution to understanding and protecting this iconic species.
