This article has been taken from the RSPB website at https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/britains-rarest-breeding-bird-successfully-raises-four-chicks, click the link to see more images and a video of the RSPB Investigations staff installed a protective fence around the nest!

A pair of Montagu’s Harriers have successfully raised four young in the UK for the first time since 2019.

A pair of Montagu’s Harriers have successfully raised four youngsters in England. Montagu’s Harriers are Britain’s rarest breeding bird, and this is the first time the species has nested successfully here since 2019. To protect the birds, the location is being kept secret.  

After a high of nine successful nests in 2011, Britain’s breeding population of Montagu’s Harriers sadly dwindled, and in 2021 they were officially placed on the UK Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. But this year, a pair arrived in the UK and have successfully raised four healthy youngsters. 

Strongholds under pressure

Montagu’s Harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often in agricultural fields, in particular winter sown cereals in the UK. They can often return to the same nesting areas each year.  

Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are diminishing due to intensification of agriculture and earlier harvest dates, as well as wetter summers. Many nests across Europe are protected from predators by the installation of small metal fences by conservationists, volunteers and farmers.  

Protecting a rare nesting bird

The male and female birds were first seen at the now secret location in England in May, raising hopes they would breed. Their nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone, and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the RSPB.  

Photographs indicated that both adult birds were ringed, which enabled the identification of the birds. Remarkably the male is a chick that hatched from a UK nest in 2015, while the female from a nest in France in 2023. 

As soon as their behaviour indicated that the chicks had hatched, the RSPB entered the field under licence and installed a small protective fence to safeguard the nest from ground predators.  

Four fledged successfully

The chicks were ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights, delighting all involved.  

Mark Thomas, Montagu’s Harrier Species Lead at the RSPB said:  

‘’We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other, and, through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters.  

“What’s even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.” 

The farmer, who doesn’t want to be named in order to protect the location, said: ‘It’s fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades.” 

It is now hoped the birds will all migrate safely to Africa for the winter, and that the adults will return to breed again in 2026.