Deutschland – 22. 05. 2026

The harrier season has begun – first nest saved!

22.05.2026

Montagu's harriers and marsh harriers build their nests in grain fields, where the young birds risk ending up in the combine harvester during the harvest. In the Zülpich Börde between Cologne and Aachen, we search for the nests of these endangered migratory birds and protect them together with the farmers — a nest protection zone is left standing during mowing. This “hot phase” of the harrier season normally only begins with the grain harvest in summer, but now we already had to secure a first clutch: Near Nörvenich (Düren district), a pair of marsh harriers had chosen a ryegrass field of all places to raise their young, and it was scheduled to be mowed as early as May 21. The nest protection zone was marked out and equipped with an electric pasture fence. We are currently monitoring a dozen more broods in grain fields — there is no danger there yet.

Watch a short video reel of the rescue here.