Great news all round this week at the Tweed Valley Osprey Project!
Our local conservation officer has reported that this year we again have eight pairs of ospreys nesting in the Scottish Borders, which out of a UK total of just over 200 pairs is a wonderful contribution. It is too early yet to tell how many of these nest will produce eggs and chicks successfully , but we hope it will be a bumper year for ospreys!
Also, news from our 'backup nest' - we have two eggs laid by our resident pair of birds, so we are hoping they too will have chicks by the end of May.
Lastly, news today of a sighting of one of our previous year's osprey chicks: one of the 2003 chicks has been found in Dumfries and Galloway. Despite being blown down by the turbulence of a passing military aircraft, the bird was rescued and re-released unharmed. This is fantastic news as we estimate only half of chicks born each year make it back to Scotland as breeding age adults due to the hazards of migration. There is also a time delay of a couple of years usually before their return to their birthplace, so we are always excited to get news of them.
Our main nest birds are enjoying the glorious warm weather- as are we!
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