Wildlife

Montagu's Harrier Crop Nesting Welfare

Montagu's harriers are rare UK visitors that sometimes nest in cereal crops, requiring emergency cooperation with farmers to prevent nest destruction at harvest.

Key Facts

Only 5-15 pairs breed in UK in any given year
Pairs often choose cereal fields for nesting, not always detected early
Harvest typically coincides with chick fledging period
RSPB operates emergency nest protection scheme with farmer cooperation
UK law strictly protects nests but farming operations can inadvertently destroy them

Welfare Considerations

Nest destruction by harvesting machinery causes direct mortality of eggs and chicks. The emergency protection scheme involving nest location, temporary fencing and farmer cooperation is a successful model for reducing welfare harm on intensively farmed landscapes.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB's Montagu's harrier emergency nest protection scheme
Report suspected harrier nesting in cereal fields to RSPB immediately
Advocate for farmer incentives to cooperate with rare bird nest protection
Contribute to raptor conservation funding through wildlife charities