Paddle board yobs disturbing rare ospreys

PADDLE boarders and canoeists desperate for pictures are posing a threat to protected birds with their ‘disgraceful’ behaviour, conservationists have claimed.

Sir John Lister-Kaye, the owner of the Aigas Field Centre, near Beauly in Inverness-shire, said visitors have been ‘screaming’ at birds of prey and disrupting their breeding grounds.

He said that last weekend, between 30 and 40 canoeists and paddle boarders reportedly tried to move a pair of breeding ospreys so they could photograph them.

Sir John, 76, said: ‘They were splashing with their paddles and screaming at the birds to get them to come off their nest, which is illegal during breeding season. It’s disgraceful.’

The naturalist, author and conservationist said that ten years of noise and drones flying over nests has driven birds away.

A spokesman for protection agency NatureScot said they had been working with Aigas, Highland Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Canoe Association to highlight the sensitivity of the area.

She said: ‘Sign boards to do this will be installed this week at popular launch sites and at car parks along the gorge.’