Ospreys pack their bags

4th September 2009

Experts believe that Kielder Water & Forest Park’s ospreys may have departed for warmer climes.

The historic brood of three chicks – the first born in Northumberland for at least 200 years – and their first time parents have most probably embarked on their 3,500 mile migration to sub-Saharan Africa to escape the harsh winter weather.

Last week Forestry Commission rangers found no sign of mum and one of the chicks, suggesting they were first to begin the epic journey. Martin Davison, Forestry Commission Ornithologist, said:

“The adult female usually sets off first, with the rest following soon after. We would expect that to happen around now so there’s nothing sinister in the lack of sightings. The male and two chicks were still hunting on Kielder Water last week, but with mum and one of the brood gone they were probably getting itchy feet – or wings.”

The ospreys hatched in June on a platform specially erected by the Forestry Commission. Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Water also proved an excellent hunting ground, helping produce fighting fit chicks. But now the youngsters face the biggest challenge of their lives – their first migration. Martin Davison added:

“This is their most vulnerable time. Quite simply it’s an enormous undertaking for an inexperienced bird and some estimates suggest that one in two don’t make it. The safest route is to hug the coastline down through France and Spain, but some opt for the seemingly shorter hop across the Bay of Biscay. That could be a fatal mistake because although ospreys are strong fliers it can prove too much in one go and they drop exhausted into the sea.”

The adult ospreys will almost certainly return to the same nest next year and plans are being made to erect a camera to allow visitors to Kielder Water & Forest Park to enjoy unique views of the nest. The male will reappear in March to check the site, with the female flying in a week or two later. Chicks will remain in West Africa for a couple of years and if fortune smiles on them they will return to the UK in spring 2012. Experts now believe all the offspring are female. They have a greater homing instinct than males, so it’s possible they may reappear at Kielder Water & Forest Park.

Elisabeth Rowark, Director of the Kielder Partnership, said:

“The ospreys have been a terrific and heart-warming story. We hear so much these days about wildlife on the decline that it makes all successes being achieved in Kielder Water & Forest Park even more important. It’s now fingers’ crossed for the safe return of the adults.”

NOTES TO EDITOR
Thousands of people have taken advantage of a special osprey viewing point in Kielder Water & Forest Park operated by the RSPB and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, with support from Northumberland National Park. Special sailings of Northumbrian Water’s Osprey ferry to view the birds on Kielder Water also proved a hit. Nature lovers came from as far afield as Hong Kong, where they had read about the birds in local newspapers.

Ospreys were once distributed widely in the UK, but persecution resulted in the species becoming extinct in England as a breeding bird in 1840 and in Scotland in 1916. Birds re-colonised Scotland in the 1950s and by 2001 there were nearly 160 breeding pairs (today about 200). The same year saw the first successful osprey nests in England for 160 years by re-colonising birds in the Lake District and re-introduced ones at Rutland Water in the East Midlands.

The Kielder Partnership is a public, voluntary and private sector collaboration working to develop Kielder Water & Forest Park as an inspirational place for leisure, exploration and fun. Partners are the Calvert Trust Kielder, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Northumberland County Council and Northumbrian Water, plus representation from community groups. The Northumberland Wildlife Trust is an associate member. For further information please go to www.visitkielder.com

Media calls to: Richard Darn, Forestry Commission, on 01226 246351. Mobile 0775 367 0038