Rare raptor breeds on moors under a cloak of secrecy

ONE of Britain's rarest raptors has bred successfully on the North York Moors for the first time in 50 years.

Conservation body Natural England said a pair of Montagu's harriers hatched five chicks, rearing at least three of them to fledging.

The elegant Montagu's harrier has always been a rare bird in this country.

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There was no confirmed breeding in either 1974 and 1975, but numbers have slowly increased since then and, in recent years, there have typically been less than 15 confirmed breeding pairs.

Most breeding takes place on farmland around the Wash and in suitable habitats in southern England.

Round-the-clock security was provided at the nest site by a partnership including North Yorkshire Police, British Trust for Ornithology, North York Moors National Park Authority and Natural England.

To ensure the safety of the birds and hopefully their return next year the site is not being named.

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Stephen Duncan, a farmland bird adviser at Natural England, said "It's fantastic to see these beautiful birds here in Yorkshire and their breeding success is a tribute to the hard work and diligence of all the partners involved.

"The excellent condition of the surrounding moorland, much of it in Environmental Stewardship, has ensured a constant food supply for the chicks."

Mark Rasbeary, wildlife crime coordinator for North Yorkshire Police, said: "It saddens me that in the 21st century we still need to operate in a cloak of secrecy where these birds are concerned.

"It is only through a close working partnership between the agencies concerned that we have had this success, which will hopefully lead to this iconic species returning next year."