The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reports that a lone male Montagu’s harrier, identified as AU, is responsible for the continued survival of the species in the United Kingdom. After the bird was ringed as a chick in 2016, AU has sired at least 16 offspring since 2018, including six juveniles this year from two separate nests.

Secret breeding sites on private farmland

Both nests are located on private agricultural land, one within a barley patch left by a farmer as habitat, the other less than a mile away. The RSPB has chosen to keep the exact locations undisclosed to protect the sensitive birds from disturbance and to encourage future breeding on the same sites.

Conservation efforts and tracking

In July, RSPB fieldworkers fitted satellite tags to one chick from each nest, marking the first time juvenile Montagu’s harriers have been tracked in the UK. The data will help monitor their migration routes, which typically involve traveling from Africa to Europe each spring, with only a small number reaching Britain.

Historical context and recent gains

Montagu’s harriers were listed as one of the UK’s most at‑risk birds in 2021 after no breeding pairs were recorded between 2020 and 2023. Historically, the species peaked at about 30 breeding pairs in the mid‑1950s, fell to zero in 1974, and later recovered to around 13 pairs in the late 2000s. Collaboration between farmers, birdwatchers, and conservationists has contributed to the recent breeding successes.

What the future may hold

The RSPB emphasizes that maintaining secrecy around the nesting sites is crucial for the birds’ continued recovery. Ongoing cooperation with landowners and continued monitoring will be essential to ensure the Montagu’s harrier remains a part of Britain’s wildlife heritage.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.