Scottish osprey chicks winging their way to Spain to set up new population
0 This chick is one of 60 Scottish-born ospreys that have been taken to the Basque Country over the past five years in a scheme to restore the species to northern Spain Ospreys born in Scotland are being taken to northern Spain as part of a project to restore the species to the Basque Country after an absence of more than 100 years.
A total of 12 chicks have been taken from nests in northern Scotland this year and relocated to the Basque region in the north of Spain.
They are the latest in a total of 60 Scottish ospreys to be moved to the Urdaibai estuary, near the Spanish city of Bilbao, and mark the culmination of a five-year initiative aimed at reestablishing a breeding population there.
The release site is used by migrating ospreys during their passage between Scotland and their winter territories in West Africa, so was considered a suitable site for reintroduction.
Ospreys were driven to extinction in the UK in 1916, but returned to Scotland naturally in 1954 and have been nesting here ever since. There are now more than 200 breeding pairs north of the border.
Healthy chicks were selected from nests with two or more.
The birds have been tagged with a traditional metal ring and a coloured plastic one, which is inscribed with an identity code that makes it easier to track migrating birds and spot any that return to Scotland in the future.
Conservationist and ornithologist Roy Dennis, head of the Roy Dennis Foundation, has been leading the operation under a special licence from Scottish Natural heritage.
He has worked on a number of successful translocations, helping restore populations in England and Wales, southern Spain and Switzerland.
He said: “I find it tremendous that Scotland can help the Basque Country to get back a very special bird and I’m really pleased at how the guys have done the job out there.
“I know that the Basque people are really grateful to Scotland for helping them.”
Early signs suggest the project will be a success after some of the first relocated birds flew back to their new home from Africa. One may even have found a mate.
Mr Dennis added: “This year for the first time they have a male spending most of the summer with one of those females, so that’s looking good for next year.”
“It feels really good to know that we have helped reintroduce these magnificent birds to another part of the world where they have been struggling to hold on,” added Alan Campbell, environment ranger with national agency Forest Enterprise Scotland.
“The project has improved Scotland’s osprey numbers too because each of the smaller chicks left in the nests – with no competitive siblings – will have received all the food brought to the nest and so would have fledged in really good condition.” Multi-award-winning equity release specialist Age Partnership can help homeowners decide if equity release is right for them, how much they can release and what impact it could have on the size of their estate including their entitlement to means-tested benefits now, or in the future. Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. You only continue to own your own home with a lifetime mortgage, which is secured against your property. They provide initial advice for free and without obligation. Only if you choose to proceed and your case completes would a typical fee of 2% of the amount released be payable.