Osprey chicks saved from Scottish nest and relocated to Spain
A pair of osprey chicks has been saved from a Scottish nest where it was feared they would starve to death, in a rare intervention by conservationists.
The birds, nearly six weeks old, will be taken to the Valencia region of Spain as part of a programme to reintroduce the species there.
The two chicks, both thought to be male, hatched in a nest at Woodland Trust Scotland’s Loch Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber, where the charity has operated a live nest camera since 2017.
The trust, along with fans around the world watching online, became concerned after the resident male, “Louis”, began to catch insufficient fish to feed his breeding partner, “Dorcha”, and their chicks.
Trust spokesman George Anderson said: “Male ospreys feed their whole family during the nesting season with the females occasionally fishing a little towards the end of the summer.
“Louis has always been a very dependable provider. At this time of year he would normally be bringing in four or five fish a day. His record is nine.
“He has been off his game lately, often bringing in only one and sometimes none. We didn’t see him at all on Thursday and Friday.
“Bad weather is likely part of the problem and lots of nests appear to have had a poor year. But we think there is something not right about Louis. It could be his age, or he might be ill. We don’t know.
“In these circumstances the chicks will die. It is our default position not to intervene in the ospreys’ lives, and we would generally let nature take its course – only stepping in to correct any problems caused directly by humans.
“However, in this case we became aware that there was an opportunity for the chicks to go into a translocation programme reintroducing ospreys to the Valencia region in Spain.”
The chicks have been handed to the Moray-based Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, leading experts in relocating raptors and partners in the Spanish project.
Both chicks will receive a thorough health examination before they are sent to Spain.
Five-year programme
The project, based in Pego-Oliva Marshes Natural Park is led by the Generalitat Valenciana in partnership with Fundación Migres, and supported by the Town Halls of Pego, Oliva, Xabia and Denia. This is the second year of a five-year programme aimed at restoring ospreys to the region.
“Louis” is thought to have been two or three years old when he first appeared at Loch Arkaig in 2017 so he is likely to be about 10 or 11 now. While some ospreys live well into their twenties, a typical lifespan seems to be between 10 and 15 years.
With the chicks gone the adult ospreys are likely to stay around the nest to assert their possession and stop other ospreys taking up residence. They will likely migrate a little earlier than usual at the end of summer.
The Loch Arkaig nest camera will continue to stream for the rest of the season.
