FAQs
Why was the nest location not kept secret to protect it?
A common approach to protecting rare birds is ‘security through obscurity’ – simply don’t tell anyone about them. This approach was adopted when the birds were first observed in 2023. However, the proximity of the birds to Talybont and the high profile of Gilestone Farm meant it wasn’t possible to keep the location of the nest out of the public domain for very long. Experience from other sites suggests that once the location of a nest has become widely known then the best way to deter intentional disturbance is to have an effective security system in place and to have as many people aware and ‘eyes on’ as possible.
How can I view the birds?
Please see our page on how to view the birds.
How can I get close to the birds?
Ospreys are very easily disturbed and are particularly sensitive to seeing people. Even the sighting of people hundreds of metres away can cause disturbance and impact their breeding success. Disturbing Osprey or their nests is a criminal offence. We know the view point is a long way from the nest but it is currently the nearest point with public access. Also, these are young birds on a new nest and they will be more prone to disturbance than older and more established pairs and we ask that for 2024 you do not try to get any closer. We hope that in 2025 there will be arrangements for closer viewing and photography. Please be patient and put the interests of the birds first.
What happens if one or both birds fail to return from migration?
Birds are very faithful to their nest site and form long term pair bonds and although possible, it is unusual for adult birds to fail to return to their nest in spring. Should that happen then a new mate or even a new pair would most likely take up residence the same season. It is worth remembering that the nest is protected by law even if the birds are not in residence.
How can I help?
By joining Usk Valley Ospreys.
Why is the video feed from the nest cam not being made public?
The land, the cameras and the video feed are the property of Welsh Government, and its decision is not to make the feed public for the time being. In part this seems to be due to a concern that doing so may attract too many visitors to Talybont. The feed is though being accessed by a very limited number of people for scientific monitoring and security purposes. We hope that Welsh Government will review its positions in due course.
Where does Usk Valley Ospreys get its money from?
The funds needed for the ‘osprey evening’ and website have come from donations from a small number of local people. We hope that others will also be able to be happy to make donations. In the future we plan to make use of grant opportunities and like similar osprey groups elsewhere we may introduce a small membership fee in 2025
How does the presence of osprey affect the future of the farm?
In a written statement on 29th January 2024 the Welsh Government announced “it is clear that the full commercial and charitable objectives of the Green Man Group, as set out in its business plan for the use of Gilestone Farm, can no longer be realised”. We understand Welsh Government is exploring new uses and potentially new owners. The use of the farm is not a matter for Usk Valley Ospreys and the group will work with whoever owns and runs the farm to protect the ospreys.
How does the presence of osprey affect farming?
The ‘Osprey Management Plan’ has identified a 750m radius zone around the nest within which activities that are likely to disturb the osprey are precluded. Between 350m and 750m routine farming activities are not expected to disturb the birds and so farming operations can generally continue as normal. In fact, even within the 350m range most farming activities can continue as normal but farmers are being asked to be sensitive to the presence of the birds and to remain in vehicles if at all possible (this is because the birds seem to readily habituate to the presence of farm vehicles but not to people).