Issued by the Lake District Osprey Project

A partnership between The Forestry Commission, the RSPB and the Lake District National Park Authority

 

OSPREYS’ ‘RELOCATION, RELOCATION, RELOCATION’ MOVE

LAKES OSPREY PAIR SETTLE ON NEW NEST

It seems that Lakeland’s famous ospreys may have the ‘seven year itch’ this spring, as the birds have decided to relocate to a new nest site, the Lake District Osprey Project confirmed today (23 April 2008).

After seven successful breeding seasons at a nest in Wythop Woods on the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, the ospreys have surprised the experts by switching to a new nest - on the opposite side of the Lake.  Experts say that it is unusual for a pair of ospreys to move in this way, as a well-established nest is often used by many generations of ospreys (with some nests known to have been in use for more than 100 years).

Graeme Prest of the Lake District Osprey Project said:  “Over the years we have learnt to ‘expect the unexpected’ when it comes to our ospreys and clearly this year it's going to be no different, with yet another twist to the tale.  However, it's great news that it looks like it's going to be business as usual for our ospreys but just at a different nest and it does mean that we’ll need to alter our osprey viewing arrangements for visitors slightly.”

Listen to Graemes interview on BBC Radio Cumbria.

Osprey viewing arrangements are as follows:

Dodd Wood – the existing viewpoint remains open with great opportunities to watch ospreys fishing in the Lake, see red squirrels and watch woodland birds.  The osprey team are working to set up a new viewpoint nearby where we hope to provide visitors with better than ever views of the nesting ospreys – latest details and directions from the friendly osprey staff at Dodd Wood or the project website.

Forestry Commission Whinlatter Visitor Centre – osprey exhibition and activities as usual, but currently no images of nesting ospreys on the big screen, as the cameras are fixed on the ‘old’ nest.  The team hope to set up a camera overlooking the new nest, but need to ensure there is no disturbance to the birds

It’s probable that the arrival last year of a new female in the pair may have something to do with the change of location.  Each osprey has its own ‘personality’ and the team felt that the new female never looked settled in the Wythop Woods nest.  Hindsight is a great thing and, looking back, some members of the osprey watch team now think that the behaviour of the female last year probably hinted at the change of nest site.

The ospreys have moved to a nest site on the east side of Bassenthwaite Lake.  The new nest is on an artificial platform, which was installed by the Osprey Project team to encourage more ospreys to settle in the Lakes.

Graeme added:  “We think that the Bassenthwaite area can support several pairs of ospreys and so we’ve put up artificial nest platforms around the lake to give new colonisers a helping hand.  It looks like the returning ospreys have shunned the old nest site and have taken a shine to one of these new starter homes.”

Since ospreys first nested in 2001, more than half a million visitors have watched the birds nesting and rearing young from the viewpoints provided by the Lake District Osprey Project.  The Project is a partnership between the Forestry Commission, the RSPB and the Lake District National Park Authority.

For the latest up-dates on the osprey saga and info on how to see the birds click on www.ospreywatch.co.uk

The Lake District Osprey Project is a partnership between The Forestry Commission, the RSPB and the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA).

www.forestry.gov.uk www.rspb.org.uk www.lake-district.gov.uk


Additional notes:

    1. Bassenthwaite Lake is a National Nature Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation owned and managed by the Lake District National Park Authority.

    2.      The Bassenthwaite ospreys re-colonised England naturally in 2001 as part of a population expansion in Scotland, following the return of ospreys there in the 1950s after an absence of more than 50 years.  It was the first time that ospreys had nested in the Lake District for at least 150 years.

    3.      The Lake District Osprey Viewpoint at the Forestry Commission’s Dodd Wood is located, 3 miles north of Keswick, off the A591 – follow signs to Mirehouse.  The Viewpoint is open all daylight hours with the osprey crew available from 10am-5pm, and is part of a UK-wide network of RSPB Aren’t Birds Brilliant! sites

    4.      Osprey Bus – a liveried bus serviced named after the spectacular birds of prey – operates around Bassenthwaite Lake at weekends, Bank Holidays and school holidays, making it easy for visitors to leave their cars behind and travel on the bus to visit Osprey Country.