News in the UK has been aflutter this week with stories about the Montagu’s harrier – an elusive raptor species that has nested for the second year running in the same top-secret location, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Known to birders as “Monties”, these slender, pale-gray birds of prey have historically had low breeding pair numbers within the country, with a record high of 30 recorded in the 1950s.
Following a recent peak of 9 nests recorded in 2009, the population has declined with no pairs between 2020 and 2023, according to the RSPB.
The perilously low UK breeding numbers mean that the location of the new nest is being kept under wraps to stave hordes of avid birders from swarming. However, in Spain, these birds can be photographed reliably – albeit by obvserving “extreme” caution, say conservation groups.
According to the organization SEO BirdLife, when photographing Monties you should never approach or linger near a nest and should only take pictures via professional birding organizations operating specialized hides.
A recent study highlighted that, in 2017, Spain recorded the highest number of breeding Montagu's harriers within the European Union, at some 4,269-5,360. This represents a 27% decline from the previous 2006 recording, hence conservationists’ concerns.
Southwestern regions of Spain, such as Extremadura and La Janda, are known for being sighting hotspots. Though conservationists also warn that birders shouldn’t explore these areas in search of the birds alone without a trained guide.
As for within the UK, it’s unlikely that Monties’ numbers will become significant enough any time soon for it to become safe to photograph them. However, through ongoing conservation efforts from the likes of the RSPB, hopefully this will change in the long term.
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