OSPREY GROUPS A'FLUTTER OVER BIRDS' JUBILEE!

This species was wiped from Scottish skies 88 years ago by unprecedented human persecution. The last nesting pair were recorded in 1916, but in 1954 ospreys came back. 2004 is their golden jubilee.

The Scottish population is now an impressive 160 breeding pairs. Although the birds won’t return to Scotland from their winter hideaway in west Africa until March, Forestry Commission Scotland is joining several other organisations in planning a year of celebrations to commemorate this particularly Scottish conservation success story.

The Commission, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Scottish Raptor Study Groups and Kailzie Gardens, near Peebles, are planning a programme of events and projects called 'Osprey 50'. This includes opportunities for the public to watch one of Scotland’s most charismatic and loved species, either live at the nest or via closed-circuit TV. These are set up at nests that the birds have established over the past 50 years.

In 1954 two ospreys returned and bred successfully at Loch Garten in Strathspey. Ospreys are now mainly found in northern and central Scotland, but have also found their way into the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. A few pairs have also re-colonised England, mainly with the help of Scottish Raptor Study Group experts.

The osprey has captured the hearts of the Scottish public, and 'Osprey 50' spokesman Duncan Orr-Ewing of RSPB Scotland said,

“Although this bird re-colonised Scotland naturally, from then on its population increase has been achieved largely as a result of much hard work by conservationists and land managers, including the partners in 'Osprey 50'.

“We can all be proud that this magnificent bird is now doing so well in Scotland. For many years Scotland’s ospreys had to be kept 'under wraps', for good reason. Now we are encouraging people to go and see these spectacular birds at the 'Osprey 50' partners’ viewing centres, where they can be watched without fear of disturbing them."

“The Commission is delighted that the 'Osprey 50' partnership has been formed. We have been working for many years with partners to secure the spread of this iconic species. Now we have opened two remote-viewing sites where the public will be able to watch these magnificent birds in action. Both our sites are ideal for introducing people to wildlife viewing.

“It is excellent that the 'Osprey 50' project will raise awareness of the importance of Scotland’s wildlife, which has a key role to play in the development of rural economies through sustainable green tourism."

“This jubilee comes at a great time for the Trust, because we plan to redevelop our Osprey Visitor Centre near Dunkeld next year. This should allow even more people to watch and enjoy these marvellous birds in their natural environment. Their success story is something all of the organisations and the Scottish public can be proud of."

• Loch Garten - from early April 2004. Open daily 10am to 6pm. Tel: Osprey Centre 01479 831476, or RSPB Abernethy Forest Reserve office 01479 821409, or visit www.rspb.org.uk;
• Aberfoyle - from March 2004. Telephone 0845 FORESTS (0845 367 3787) or the David Marshall Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, 01877 382258, or visit www.forestry.gov.uk;
• Glentress and Kailzie Gardens - from the end of May to the end of August 2004. Telephone 0845 FORESTS (0845 367 3787) or visit www.forestry.gov.uk; and
• Loch of the Lowes - from April 2004 to end August. Telephone 01350 727337 or visit www.swt.org.uk

1. Images of ospreys are available from:
   • the Forestry Commission picture library, telephone 0131 314 6200 / 6411;
   • Adam Harper, RSPB Scotland, 0131 311 6536; mobile 07736 722181; or
   • Chris Glen, Scottish Wildlife Trust, 07977 229 469.
2. Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are large, fish-eating birds of prey native to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America. Although their population in Scotland is now much more secure than for many decades, they continue to fact threats, including: habitat loss in their wintering quarters; collisions with overhead power lines; entanglement in discarded fishing lines and ingestion of fishing hooks; as well as the natural hazards of migration to and from their wintering quarters in west Africa.
3. Baxter and Rintoul in Birds of Scotland (published in 1953) wrote, “It does seem sad that, owing to the misdeeds of those who lived about a century ago, we should be deprived of the pleasure of seeing ospreys at their eyries in Scotland. Should any return to breed with us, we trust that public opinion and the forces of law will prevent their destruction."
4. Once quite common in the Highlands, the osprey ceased to breed in Scotland about 1916, after persecution by shooting and egg theft. Although they continued to be seen passing through on migration, none attempted to nest again until a pair settled in Strathspey and reared two young in 1954.
5. In 1958, the famous RSPB Operation Osprey began and despite an all-night guard the Loch Garten eyrie (nest) was robbed. Nest protectors stayed out all night close to the nest and used string attached from the forward-line guards to the wrists of those asleep further back, to warn of intruders! The theft from the Loch Garten nest in 1958 received wide publicity. Since then, parabolic reflectors and hi-tech alarms have been used to warn of intruders. In 1959 a forest fire threatened the Loch Garten eyrie and its three young, but the fire was extinguished and the young birds fledged successfully. A viewing point was established and 14,000 visitors viewed the birds in 1959. More than 2 million people have now visited the Loch Garten ospreys.
6. By the early 1980s the osprey population in Scotland had expanded to about 30 breeding pairs, but almost every year nests were robbed by egg collectors. Between 12 and 14 nests were robbed between 1982 and 1984.
7. Scottish ospreys nest in trees and use large stick nests. However, before their extinction in 1916, there were well documented records of ospreys breeding on rocks in places such as Gairloch in Wester Ross, and on man-made structures such as the ruined castle at Loch an Eilean, near Aviemore.
8. RSPB Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland staff and Scottish Raptor Study Group workers have built many artificial nest sites for ospreys. In the right location, ospreys take to these sites quite readily. This has helped make the birds safer and is believed to have helped their spread. The osprey’s colonisation of the Scottish Borders in 2001 was achieved with the help of artificial nest sites built in trees by Commission rangers.

• Forestry Commission Scotland - Charlton Clark, 0131 314 6507; mobile 07810 181067;
• RSPB Scotland - Adam Harper, 0131 311 6536; mobile 07736 722181;
• Scottish Wildlife Trust - Chris Glen, 07977 229469; and
• Scottish Raptor Study Groups - Keith Brockie, 01877 830609.
• Kailzie Gardens - 01721 720007