UK's Rarest Bird of Prey Breeds in Secret for Second Year to Deter Photographers

The Montagu's harrier, the rarest bird of prey in the UK, has successfully bred for the second year in a row at a confidential site. To avoid disruption from wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has kept the nest locations secret. A male harrier mated with two females, resulting in three chicks being raised in each of the two nests on English farmland. Mark Thomas, the RSPB's species lead for Montagu's harriers, explained that the working farms cannot accommodate an increase in visitors. This year's breeding follows last year's achievement of four chicks, the first success since 2019. The species, known as the "aristocrats of the bird world," was added to the UK's red list in 2021, with numbers dropping from nine successful nests in 2011. For the first time, the RSPB attached satellite tags to two chicks to monitor their movements and enhance protection, as their low-lying nests are vulnerable to farm machinery, particularly with earlier harvests caused by climate change. Exclusive footage from BBC News showed the male delivering prey to the female. Each spring, the species migrates from Africa to Europe, but only a few make it to the UK.