Conservationists have been diligently working to save a rare bird species from extinction in the United Kingdom. Recent progress in safeguarding the Montagu’s harrier’s British population can be largely credited to the exceptional breeding abilities of a single male bird known as AU. This 10-year-old male, nicknamed after the chemical symbol for gold, has fathered a remarkable 16 offspring, with 10 born in the last two years.
According to Mark Thomas, a conservationist and the species lead for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), AU is playing a crucial role in sustaining the species in the UK. The Montagu’s harriers are migratory birds that winter in Africa and parts of Asia, returning to Europe each spring for breeding.
Globally, the population of Montagu’s harriers is declining, and they are classified as a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. In the UK, these already rare birds have been rapidly decreasing, facing the risk of disappearing from the country entirely.
At their peak in the 1950s, there were approximately 30 breeding pairs in the UK, but that number dropped to zero in the ’70s before slowly increasing to 13 in the mid-2000s. However, there was another sharp decline with zero breeding pairs reported between 2000 and 2003. Mark Thomas emphasized the urgency to protect the current bird population, highlighting the recent success in breeding.
AU’s mating displays and successful reproduction have been key to the species’ survival. After raising four chicks in 2025, AU returned this year to court female harriers. His acrobatic displays caught the attention of three females, eventually leading to the successful nesting of two females with him.
With six new chicks hatched this year, including four females and two males, conservationists are optimistic about the species’ future. The offspring are carefully monitored in top-secret locations on British farms to protect them from predators and other dangers. Additionally, satellite trackers have been attached to two juvenile harriers for the first time, enabling researchers to monitor their migration patterns.
The conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring the survival of Montagu’s harriers in the UK. Thomas expressed both excitement and responsibility in working to protect these birds, emphasizing the significance of their conservation work for future generations of this remarkable species.