The UK’s oldest breeding female osprey, a bird which returned for the 21^st consecutive year to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve last month, has laid the first egg of its breeding season, it was announced today (Wednesday 13 April). 
 

The egg, which is the 59^th egg to be laid by this individual osprey in its lifetime, has sparked hopes that this bird, whose fertility is under doubt due to its incredible 26 years of age, could produce its 49^th chick on the nest this year.

 

 

 

 

Spotted protectively hunched over an egg at 13.34 pm by Scottish Wildlife Trust staff, the osprey and its eggs are now the subjects of a 24-hour nest stakeout, funded thanks to SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund and People’s Postcode Lottery, to keep the birds and their eggs safe from wildlife crime. 

Anna Cheshier, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Perthshire Ranger, said:  “To see eggs on the nest again is simply remarkable.  Osprey’s live an average of eight years and are estimated to produce 20 eggs during that time.  Producing 59 eggs over 21 consecutive breeding years makes her an incredible specimen of the bird world. 

“Ospreys were nearly extinct in the UK in the early 21^st century after facing persecution, and the birds and eggs are still at risk from wildlife criminals and egg thieves.  Thanks to funding from SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund and People’s Postcode Lottery, and help from volunteers, we will watch over these ospreys day and night and hope to see chicks hatch in around five weeks. 

“If chicks successfully hatch from the eggs, this osprey will have produced 50 chicks, an incredible contribution to the recovering osprey population breeding in Scotland.  We hope to raise enough money to track these chicks using satellite tags this year, to find out about their inherited migration path and learn useful information which could help protect ospreys during migration.

“Until the eggs hatch, we will watch on as our female osprey incubates the eggs, while her mate occasionally takes a turn during daylight hours. He also has the role of catching fish to feed the pair.”      

Wildlife enthusiasts across the globe have also been following the breeding season online thanks to a dedicated blog and nest cam which streams live from www.swt.org.uk. 

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has launched a special membership offer to celebrate the return of this incredible female osprey.  Every new supporter who signs up to become a member of the charity during this year’s osprey season will receive an exclusive photograph of the osprey with their membership pack.  New members who sign up over the next week, between Thursday 14 and Wednesday 20 April, will also receive two free tickets allowing them and two guests of their choice to visit Loch of the Lowes for free until 31 August. 

The charity will also be running a minibus between Dunkeld and the visitor centre on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th April to cope with expectedly high visitor numbers over the Easter weekend.  Visitors are advised that there are limited car parking and toilet facilities at the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre.  For more information, visit www.swt.org.uk

***ENDS***

Images Captions:

Female osprey at Loch of the Lowes with eggs 2010 (c) Scottish Wildlife Trust

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL IMAGE REQUESTS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nicola McGovern, Scottish Wildlife Trust’s PR and Communications Manager
0131 312 4742
nmcgovern@swt.org.uk

          

Notes to Editor

1. Stock still images and high definition footage of the osprey are available.  Please contact Scottish Wildlife Trust’s PR Office with requests.
2. Photographers and broadcast journalists are welcome at the Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve but are requested to contact the PR Office before arriving.
3. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 35,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. The Scottish Wildlife Trust seeks toraise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
4. The Scottish Wildlife Trust receives financial assistance and support from a range of organisations, funders and individuals including Scottish Natural Heritage and People’s Postcode Lottery.
5. Special thanks go to SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund for their continuing support for our work in protecting the ospreys