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CHARITY BLOG
OLDEST BREEDING OSPREY LAYS 56TH EGG
Osprey returns to breeding site and lays for 20th year in a row
Wildlife experts have confirmed that Britain’s oldest female Osprey has laid her 56th egg of her lifetime.
Twentieth
The 25 year old Osprey has returned to her breeding ground at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve for the 20th year in a row wildlife watchers at the reserve have confirmed that she is sitting on a single egg, her first of the season.
Wonder of Nature
Described as a “wonder of nature” this female has lived far beyond an average life expectancy of 8 years for this species and has produced 46 chicks that have successfully fledged, more than double the usual 20.
Confused
Being such a veteran of chick-rearing has come in useful in training up her new younger mate who initially seemed “a bit confused” about the role he is to play. The female has been seem to regularly admonish her mate by calling out repeatedly in a bid to ensure the male provides ideal living conditions for her and her chick as he carries out the necessary osprey male duties of providing the female with food and maintaining the upkeep of the nest.
From Extinction
The Osprey was nearly driven to extinction by 1916 and Emma Rawling, the SWT Perthshire ranger appointed to protect the osprey during the breeding season, said that conservationists at the reserve where “jumping for joy” at the news that the 47th chick is on its way.
Mates
Bonding between the male and female is going well however there is a possibility that her original mate, the reserves resident male may return and battle to retain his position and take back his mate. Each year ospreys migrate from Africa, where they spend the winter months, to breed to the UK in March and April. Sadly as time passes it becomes increasingly likely that the resident male has not survived the 3000 mile trip.
Monitoring
The SWT is currently raising money for a satellite tag for at least one osprey so they can monitor its journey to and from Africa, as little is known about what they go through once they leave the reserve. There are currently 150 osprey breeding pair in the UK, the majority of which live in Scotland.
