UK's Rarest Bird of Prey Raises 6 Chicks in One Summer

The UK's rarest bird of prey just became a very busy dad, and conservationists couldn't be happier about it.

A single male Montagu's harrier, nicknamed "AU" by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, successfully raised six chicks this summer with two different female partners. The rare raptors nested on protected English farmland, marking the second consecutive year of successful breeding after a devastating four-year period with no chicks at all.

These slender, long-winged birds were added to the UK's "red list" of most endangered species in 2021. Their numbers crashed from nine successful nests in 2011 to zero confirmed breeding between 2020 and 2024, making this year's six flying juveniles a genuine conservation victory.

The secret to success? Farmers and conservationists joined forces to protect the ground nests with fences that keep out foxes and other predators. The BBC captured exclusive footage of the spectacular mid-air feeding displays, where the male drops prey while flying and the female flips upside down to snatch it with her talons.

Montagu's harriers migrate to Africa each winter and return to European farmland to breed, often hiding their nests among crops. Climate change has made survival even harder this year, with harvests happening a full month earlier than normal and putting nests at risk of being accidentally destroyed by farm equipment.

Why This Inspires

For the first time ever, two of the six chicks are wearing satellite tags that will reveal where young harriers go after leaving the nest. This missing piece of the puzzle could transform conservation efforts by showing migration routes, wintering grounds, and whether the birds return to the UK in their first or second year.

Mark Thomas, head of investigations at the RSPB, calls this "the bit that's missing from the jigsaw." Understanding the complete life cycle of these rare birds means better protection at every stage of their journey.

The RSPB is asking birdwatchers across the UK to report any sightings of the tagged juveniles. Every observation helps scientists track the young harriers and gives this species on the brink a fighting chance at recovery.

One hardworking father and a team of dedicated protectors just proved that targeted conservation really works.