A rare bird of prey, the Montagu's harrier, has successfully nested for the second consecutive year in a concealed location in the UK. These slender, long-winged raptors undertake an extensive annual migration to Africa during winter, returning to Europe to nest in the summer, frequently choosing agricultural fields for their nests.
For the first time, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has equipped two of this year's chicks with satellite tags. This initiative aims to gather crucial information about the behavior of juvenile harriers after they leave the nest. "It will allow us for the first time ever to work out where they're going, what migration route, how long they'll spend there, and will they come back to the UK in the first year or the second year," said Mark Thomas, head of investigations at the RSPB. "All of that information is the bit that's missing from the jigsaw."
The tagging is also intended to enhance the protection of these rare birds, whose ground nests are often hidden within crops. This hidden location makes them vulnerable to inadvertent destruction by farm machinery. "This is a species right on the brink, and climate change is not helping that. The harvest here, for example, this year, was like a month earlier than in previous years. So it almost puts any Montagu's harrier nest at the peril of inadvertently being destroyed by farm machinery," Thomas explained.
The Montagu's harrier is considered one of the UK's rarest birds of prey, with its nesting habits and migratory patterns presenting significant conservation challenges. The early harvest this year highlights the increasing threat posed by climate change, which can disrupt traditional agricultural timelines and endanger vulnerable nesting sites. The data collected from the satellite tags is expected to provide vital insights for future conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding the species.