A male Montagu's harrier named AU has successfully bred six chicks in a secret UK location for the second consecutive year.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reported that a single male Montagu's harrier, known as AU, has successfully reared six chicks across two nests in a secret English farmland location. This marks the second consecutive year of breeding success for the species in the UK, following a period where no successful breeding was observed between 2020 and 2023. AU has been responsible for at least 16 chicks since 2018, effectively propping up the population of the UK's rarest bird of prey. To protect the species, the RSPB kept the nesting site secret and collaborated with farmers to install fences that exclude ground predators. This year, the RSPB also fitted two chicks with satellite tags for the first time to track their migration and survival. Mark Thomas, head of investigations at the RSPB, noted that the species is on the brink due to climate change and potential damage from farm machinery. Conservationists hope the tagging will provide critical data on the migration routes of these acrobatic raptors.

Sources

• BBC
  UK's rarest bird of prey rears new chicks in secret location
• CNN
  This rare polyamorous bird of prey’s location has been kept a mystery. Here’s why
• People.com
  The U.K.’s Rarest Bird of Prey Rears 6 Chicks in a Secret Spot, Offering Hope for the Species
• PetaPixel
  UK’s Rarest Bird Nests Kept Secret to Keep Wildlife Photographers Away
• The Daily Gazette
  Endangered rare bird of prey rears chicks at secret location