About the Tweed Valley Osprey Project

 

The Tweed Valley Osprey Project (TVOP) aims to protect nesting ospreys and encourage them to settle and breed in suitable locations in the area.  By doing so, the partners involved hope to improve people’s knowledge, understanding and appreciation of these spectacular birds.

Background to the project

Although ospreys first returned to Scotland to breed in 1954, it was over 40 years later that the first birds were seen summering in the Scottish Borders.  Even then, it took a helping hand from Forestry Commission Scotland rangers, together with the local Police Wildlife Liaison Officer and the RSPB to encourage our first pair settle and breed here.

In the late 1990s, a number of artificial nest platforms were erected in safe locations within the Tweed Valley Forest Park in the hope ospreys returning on migration would find the area an attractive place to breed.  Osprey conservation has always been a secretive business, yet the TVOP wanted to allow people to share in their success story without compromising the safety of the birds from egg collectors. 

The solution was to place a camera at the nest and provide live footage of the birds as they raised their family.

The Osprey Watch Centres

In partnership with Kailzie Gardens, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Tweed Forum began developing two new osprey watch centres at Kailzie and Glentress.  Cameras were set up on an artificial nesting platform, and the first images of the nest were beamed back in April 2004.

Due to the remoteness of the nest site, the latest in microwave technology is used to beam the images back to the centres, using a combination of solar and wind power.  Pan, tilt-and-zoom cameras and live sound add to the visitor's experience.

For details on opening times and location, see the Osprey Watch centres page.

Project partners

The project is a partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland and Kailzie Gardens, with support from Scottish Natural Heritage, Lothian & Borders Police, Scottish Borders Tourist Board, Tweed Forum and 'Making Tracks', which is funded by VisitScotland and the EU's Leader+ programme for the Scottish Borders.