Ospreys in Britain
Encyclopedia
The Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus) is a medium large raptor
which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. The subspecies Pandion haliaetus haliaetus is native to Eurasia and is found in the British Isles
, where it is a scarce breeder primarily in Scotland
with smaller numbers in England
and Wales
. It became extinct in the British Isles
in 1916 and recolonised in 1954. Scandinavia
n birds migrate
through Britain on the way to their breeding sites.
, but heavy persecution, mainly by Victorian egg and skin collectors, during the 19th century and early 20th century brought about its demise. The Osprey became extinct as a breeding bird in England
in 1840. It is generally considered that the species was absent from Scotland
from 1916 to 1954, although there is some evidence it continued to breed in Strathspey
in the 1930s and 40s. It is not thought to have inhabited Wales
at this time:in Ireland
it appears to have died out in the early nineteenth century.
n birds re-colonised Scotland naturally and a pair has nested successfully almost every year since 1959 at Loch Garten Osprey Centre
, Abernethy Forest
Reserve, in the Scottish Highlands
. The Osprey Centre at Loch Garten has become one of the most well-known conservation sites in the UK and has attracted over 2 million visitors since 1959.
The early re-colonisation was very slow, because of contamination of the food chain by organochlorine pesticides, and the activities of egg collectors, and had reached only 14 pairs by 1976. "Operation Osprey" ensured the security of the birds by stopping egg collectors. Barbed wire was placed around the base of trees, electric wires around the tree and a watch was kept over them through the night. Fifteen years later, in 1991, there were 71 pairs. In 2001, 158 breeding pairs were located, mainly in Scotland
.
, in 1996 English Nature
and Scottish Natural Heritage
licensed a project to re-introduce
the Osprey to Central England. Over six years, chicks from Scottish nests were moved to the Nature Reserve at Rutland Water
in the English Midlands
, where they were released. Funding was provided by Anglian Water
, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
managed the project, supported by a large team of volunteers.
In 1999 some of the translocated birds returned after their migration from Africa
and in 2001 the first pair bred.
at Bassenthwaite Lake
. These two nests were the first recorded in England for 160 years.
Since 2001, pairs of Ospreys have continued to breed successfully at both English sites and, by 2007, nineteen Osprey chicks had fledged from the Rutland colony. Another unexpected result of the translocation project was the establishment of two nests in Wales in 2004. One was at an undisclosed location and the other at the RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project
at Pont Croesor, near Porthmadog
in North Wales
. In both cases the adult male, although originally from Scotland, had been translocated to Rutland. Another significant milestone occurred in 2007 when a female Osprey, having fledged from one Rutland nest three years previously, returned as an adult and bred at a second nest. In June 2009 a pair produced three young at Kielder Water
; these are the first to breed at Kielder for over 200 years.
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
(Pandion haliaetus) is a medium large raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. The subspecies Pandion haliaetus haliaetus is native to Eurasia and is found in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, where it is a scarce breeder primarily in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
with smaller numbers in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It became extinct in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
in 1916 and recolonised in 1954. Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n birds migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
through Britain on the way to their breeding sites.
History
The Osprey formerly inhabited much of BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, but heavy persecution, mainly by Victorian egg and skin collectors, during the 19th century and early 20th century brought about its demise. The Osprey became extinct as a breeding bird in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1840. It is generally considered that the species was absent from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
from 1916 to 1954, although there is some evidence it continued to breed in Strathspey
Strathspey, Scotland
Strathspey is the area around the strath of the River Spey, Scotland, in both the Moray council area and the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area of Highland....
in the 1930s and 40s. It is not thought to have inhabited Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
at this time:in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
it appears to have died out in the early nineteenth century.
Recolonisation of Scotland
In 1954 ScandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n birds re-colonised Scotland naturally and a pair has nested successfully almost every year since 1959 at Loch Garten Osprey Centre
Loch Garten Osprey Centre
Loch Garten is a large Highland freshwater loch near Boat of Garten, in the Strathspey area of the Cairngorms National Park, in Scotland. It is surrounded by the tall pine trees of the Abernethy Forest, a large area of which is an RSPB nature reserve...
, Abernethy Forest
Abernethy Forest
Abernethy Forest is a remnant of the Caledonian Forest near Aviemore, Badenoch and Strathspey, Highland, Scotland. It is an RSPB reserve, close to Loch Garten Osprey Centre, which is also owned by the RSPB. There is approximately 4,000 hectares of forest within the reserve, and just under half of...
Reserve, in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. The Osprey Centre at Loch Garten has become one of the most well-known conservation sites in the UK and has attracted over 2 million visitors since 1959.
The early re-colonisation was very slow, because of contamination of the food chain by organochlorine pesticides, and the activities of egg collectors, and had reached only 14 pairs by 1976. "Operation Osprey" ensured the security of the birds by stopping egg collectors. Barbed wire was placed around the base of trees, electric wires around the tree and a watch was kept over them through the night. Fifteen years later, in 1991, there were 71 pairs. In 2001, 158 breeding pairs were located, mainly in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Reintroduction to England
Because of the slow geographical spread of breeding Ospreys within ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1996 English Nature
English Nature
English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
and Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...
licensed a project to re-introduce
Reintroduction
Reintroduction is the deliberate release of a species into the wild in zones formerly inhabited by said species but where it has disappeared from for a number of reasons, from captivity or relocated from other areas where the species still survives in...
the Osprey to Central England. Over six years, chicks from Scottish nests were moved to the Nature Reserve at Rutland Water
Rutland Water
Rutland Water is Anglian Water's drinking water reservoir in the county of Rutland, England, just east of the county town Oakham. It was known as Empingham Reservoir during its construction and until its official opening in 1976. The centre of its dam is at British national grid reference...
in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
, where they were released. Funding was provided by Anglian Water
Anglian Water
Anglian Water is a privatised water company that operates in the East of England. Named for East Anglia, apart from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire it also covers Lincolnshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, a small part of north Nottinghamshire and Greater London...
, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland, England. Founded in 1956, the trust now has 9,000 members helping care for over 30 nature reserves covering more than across the region...
managed the project, supported by a large team of volunteers.
In 1999 some of the translocated birds returned after their migration from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and in 2001 the first pair bred.
Recolonisation of England and Wales
The same year, a pair from the Scottish population bred for the first time in the Lake DistrictLake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
at Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest water bodies in the English Lake District. It is long and narrow, approximately long and wide, but is also extremely shallow, with a maximum depth of about ....
. These two nests were the first recorded in England for 160 years.
Since 2001, pairs of Ospreys have continued to breed successfully at both English sites and, by 2007, nineteen Osprey chicks had fledged from the Rutland colony. Another unexpected result of the translocation project was the establishment of two nests in Wales in 2004. One was at an undisclosed location and the other at the RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project
RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project
The RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project is located at at Pont Croesor near Porthmadog in Gwynedd, north-west Wales within the Snowdonia National Park.-History and background:...
at Pont Croesor, near Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. In both cases the adult male, although originally from Scotland, had been translocated to Rutland. Another significant milestone occurred in 2007 when a female Osprey, having fledged from one Rutland nest three years previously, returned as an adult and bred at a second nest. In June 2009 a pair produced three young at Kielder Water
Kielder Water
Kielder Water is a large artificial reservoir in Northumberland in North East England. It is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, the largest human-made woodland in Europe. It was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy an expected rise...
; these are the first to breed at Kielder for over 200 years.