Montagu harriers nest in cereal crops across Europe, making them highly vulnerable to harvesting operations. Nest protection schemes prevent most agricultural breeding failures.
Montagu harrier welfare during breeding is almost entirely determined by whether nest sites are identified and protected before harvest operations begin. Voluntary nest protection schemes coordinating with farmers and hunters have been remarkably successful in France, protecting thousands of nests annually. Chicks in protected nests fledge successfully rather than being killed by machinery. Expanding these schemes across European agricultural areas where the species breeds would substantially improve population welfare and conservation outcomes.