Crowdfunding for Montagu's Harrier succesful!

As in many other areas within its European range, the breeding population of Montagu´s Harriers in the Strait of Gibraltar is suffering an alarming decline. Indeed, the number of chicks fledged over the last years is probably too low to ensure the future sustainability of the local population in the long term.

Cereal fields, where most of the harriers place their nests, are harvested during the chick rearing season and is the foremost mortality cause. For different reasons, the conservation actions undertaken by the administration (i.e. maintenance of non-harvested buffer patches) have shown to be clearly insufficient.

Adult male Montagu's Harrier in La Janda — Adult male Montagu’s Harrier in La Janda

Tired of this frustrating situation, a group of enthusiastic volunteers leaded by Tumbabuey Ornithological Association, decided to take a step forward and organized a crowdfunding campaign through a Facebook page: Aguilucho Cenizo en La Janda. Thanks to the collaboration of several private donors, including NGOs, companies and individual persons, the funds needed to buy the crops where the stronghold of the Montagús Harrier population was breeding, were secured. This way, the harvesting of the crop has been avoided saving many chicks from a certain death.

In Birding The Strait, we want to thank our clients, whose trust in our guiding services has enabled us to donate in this campaign. Likewise, we want to thank the promoters of this admirable initiative and all the persons who have contributed to the cause in different ways.

Juvenile male in La Janda, a less common sighting these days

No doubt, the global future trend of the species depends on larger-scale conservation initiatives and agricultural policies in Eurasia and Africa. However, this type of small, local and private conservation initiatives will play a relevant role and they will need the help of all of us. It is certainly rewarding to feel that we have helped those individual Harriers that so much joy have provided during our birding and photography trips in La Janda!

Crowdfunding for Montagu’s Harrier succesful!