Meet chicks Doddie, Vera and Captain
A TRIO of osprey chicks has been named by the public after a poll.
The Woodland Trust Scotland held an online vote for naming the young birds at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber in the Highlands, which received thousands of suggestions.
The successful choices were Doddie, Vera and Captain – in honour of former Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir, Dame Vera Lynn and centenarian NHS fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore.
George Anderson, of Woodland Trust Scotland, said: “Our osprey nest livestream found a huge audience this summer, as people at home during lockdown craved contact with nature.
“When it came to naming the chicks, people wanted to honour these individuals who for different reasons have all been prominent in the public consciousness this year.”
There were more than 10,000 votes in the naming poll, with 50% opting for Doddie, Vera and Captain, 28% for Thor, Freya and Loki, 14% voting for Ally, Bally and Bee and 8% in favour of Hagrid, Boudica and Merlin.
The youngsters are watched by more than a quarter of a million fans on a livestreaming nest camera which has been running since 2017.