About ospreys
Introduction to the osprey
The osprey, (Pandion Haliaetus) is one of the UK’s most impressive and rarest birds of prey.
As a pescatarian it feeds exclusively on fish - watching an osprey grabbing a fish in its powerful talons and using its vast wings to lift it clear of the water is one of the great spectacles of British wildlife watching. Once caught, the osprey will take the fish back to the nest or a favourite perch to eat. Adult birds will only take what they require for their own needs or those of growing young.
Ospreys are an iconic bird and can be recognised by their distinctive black eye stripes, brown plumage with a cream or white front and impressive wingspan of some 1.5m (5’). In flight they hold their wings in a distinctive shallow ‘M’ shape.
Osprey usually pair for life, are very site faithful and so once a nest has been established it will often be used for decades. The nest at Loch Garten in Scotland has, for example, been in continuous use since 1954. Their sizable nests, constructed with sticks and lined with softer materials, are a testament to the dedication and skill of the osprey pairs. The selection of a suitable nesting site is a meticulous process, typically situated near abundant fishing grounds to ensure a steady food supply for the growing family.
Migration
The migration of ospreys from the UK takes them across the vast expanses of Europe to winter in West Africa, a journey of some 2,500km (1,500 miles). Ospreys migrate alone and so, astoundingly, the juvenile must rely on an innate knowledge to navigate the long and perilous journey. Ospreys arrive in the UK from mid-March and depart around September with the young osprey will lingering on their wintering grounds for the whole of their second summer. The males tend to return to the area of their natal site and will seek to establish new nests in the area.
Tracking technology has revolutionized our understanding of osprey migration. Satellite tags attached to select individuals provide real-time data, allowing researchers to follow their routes with unprecedented detail to help understand their migration strategies and to see how they cope with such perils as weather events and exhaustion.
Conservation
Osprey were once a common sight in the UK, but habitat loss and persecution led to their extinction as a breeding bird in Wales and England in 1847 and in Scotland in 1916. In 1954 the natural re-colonisation of ospreys in Scotland began and thanks to pioneering conservation efforts ospreys have made a triumphant return to the UK. In 2004 the first birds started nesting in Wales and there are now several locations in N Wales where these birds are established. The nest at Gilestone Farm represents a significant expansion of their range within Wales and will be the first Welsh nesting pair outside of North Wales for at least two hundred years.
Ospreys are identified as a ‘Schedule 1’ bird in the Wildlife & Countryside Act and as such it is a criminal offence to disturb them. Osprey nests are also protected year-round and must never be disturbed even when the ospreys are not present.
If you would like to learn more about these wonderful birds we recommend Tim Mackrill’s new book: The Osprey or the RSPB Spotlight book on Ospreys, also written by Tim. Dr Tim Mackrill wrote the conservation plan for the ospreys at Gilestone Farm and is an advisor to our group.