Top couple back in the spotlight with new brood
AN osprey couple who are a ringing endorsement for good parenting at their Northumberland nesting colony have once again found themselves in the spotlight.
YA and Mrs YA are leaders in the breeders league and - not for the first time – are rearing four chicks on Nest 1A at Kielder Water and Forest Park.
The pair began breeding together in 2013 on a specially built platform in the 62,000-hectare Northumberland forest. Since then 22 of their chicks have successfully fledged and this year’s brood should see them hit the quarter of a century mark.
Now their current brood have been ringed by Forestry England experts in a delicate operation.
Joanna Dailey, from the Kielder Osprey project, said: “Their impact on our growing osprey population has been tremendous. Ospreys are pretty faithful to each other and these two are the perfect match.
“He’s an excellent hunter and brings back plenty of fish feed the family. She is just as effective as a mother, making sure each chick gets a share and keeping them warm.
“They are always one of the earliest couples back from their wintering grounds in Africa. Not surprisingly we’ve become very attached to them.”
Kevin May, Forestry England Forest Management Director, North District said: “The success of this nest and others has made Kielder Forest one of the bird’s English strongholds. Plus it has significantly increased the likelihood that this iconic species will spread throughout the rest of the country.
“That’s nature recovery in action in England’s largest working forest. By working with our partners we have been able to produce a wonderful habitat of woodland and water.”
The nest has been the scene of some drama as chick 4, the last one to hatch, has been on the receiving end of bullying at feeding time, mainly from chick 3.
Chick 4 is still being deterred from joining the others by chick 3 when a fish arrives, but it is getting more food during camera hours than was the case a week ago. Chick 4 is still underdeveloped, but appears healthy.
Ringing chicks is vital to help experts keep tabs on the osprey population. Because of it we know that Mr YA hatched in Wales in 2007 to a father who himself was a prolific breeder.
The YA youngsters were gently lowered to the ground by Forestry England climbers and fitted with a unique identifying ring on one leg. On the other a numbered blue coloured tag was attached to indicate they are ospreys born in England and Wales.
This can be easily read using cameras and spotting scopes so ospreys can be tracked through their lives. They were also weighed and then returned to the nest unharmed.
Cameras on five of the eight occupied nests in
Kielder give experts a valuable insight into osprey behaviour. The public can enjoy the same views via live feeds at Kielder Castle and Northumbrian Water’s Tower Knowe visitor centre.
YA is not the only good grub provider. On nest 6, W6 is delivering well for his two youngsters, including a huge rainbow trout which was catch of the day across all nests when it arrived.
On Nest 7, the two chicks are dining well courtesy of their father KM18, who sometimes returns with a catch less than15 minutes after flying off.
As the only mouth to feed, Nest 4’s chick is receiving an abundance of fish.
There are at least two apparently healthy chicks on nest 2, which has been built in a natural tree and not a man-made platform, and so has no camera There has been one setback for the colony when both chicks on Nest 5A died..
While being brooded after a meal, chick 2 became partly wedged in the nest structure nearest the site camera. It struggled hard to release itself, but eventually expired.
The camera recorded an image from its last meal, when it was healthy and ate well.
The nest’s chick 1 had a couple of meals but later it was lying on the edge of the nest cup, apparently unwell
Its mother, Mrs UV, tried to feed it on two occasions but it was unable to open its beak. She brooded it overnight but it, too, died..
Joanna said: “This is terrible news for Nest 5A and the project. UV and Mrs UV should stay together for the next couple of months to protect their territory and reinforce their bond.
“We hope to see them have great success next year, when their first chick, Elsin, could return from his” wintering grounds for the first time.
UV is still supplying fish to Mrs UV at the nest which they are defending against intruders. The pair are likely to remain together until Mrs UV feels it is time to migrate
The Kielder Osprey Project is a partnership between Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Forestry England, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water and Calvert Kielder.