Efforts by conservationists have been ongoing to prevent the complete disappearance of a rare bird species from the United Kingdom.
According to environmentalist Mark Thomas, the recent progress made in safeguarding the Montagu’s harrier population in Britain can be largely credited to the exceptional mating abilities of one male bird described as “absolutely prolific.”
This remarkable 10-year-old bird, known as AU, has fathered 16 offspring throughout his life, with 10 born in the last two years.
“He is currently excelling,” stated Thomas, who leads the species conservation efforts for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), in an interview with guest host Paul Hunter on As It Happens.
“He is solely upholding this species in the U.K. – there is no doubt about it.”
‘A Positive Year’
Montagu’s harriers are migratory birds of prey that winter in Africa and parts of Asia, returning to Europe annually for breeding.
Despite being classified as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, the global population of Montagu’s harriers is declining.
In the U.K., the RSPB reports a rapid decline in the already scarce bird population, jeopardizing their existence in the country.
During the 1950s, there were approximately 30 breeding pairs in the U.K. which dropped to zero in the 1970s, then increased to 13 in the mid-2000s. This was followed by another sharp decline with zero breeding pairs reported between 2000 and 2003.
“We are eager to save the current bird population we have,” stated Thomas. “And this has been a positive year.”
This success is primarily attributed to AU.
After raising four chicks in 2025, the “golden boy” returned this year to perform elaborate mating displays in hopes of attracting female partners.
“He flies up to a thousand feet in the air, executing incredible twists and turns while flaunting his wings,” explained Thomas. “The females then appear, chasing him around.”
According to Thomas, three females vied for AU’s attention this year.
“The trio engaged in a fierce competition, eventually narrowing down to two females that stayed and nested with him.”
Preserving the Nests
Between his two mates, AU fathered six chicks, comprising four females and two males.
Conservationists are optimistic that his sons will return to the U.K. for breeding in the future. Two male offspring from 2025 have already been sighted in the country, although they are not yet of breeding age.
“This is a positive development for the continuity of the population,” Thomas remarked.
The six new hatchlings are evenly distributed among two nests approximately one kilometer apart within a confidential location on a British farm.
Only researchers and land