Well folks, it looks like our young ospreys are on their way- with no sightings for a few days we can assume they have begun their wanderings, that will hopefully lead them safely south to their wintering grounds in Africa. Our male too must be on the cusp of migration, having fulfilled his role to perfection.

The satellite tracking studies that have been done with ospreys so far, indicate that most young ospreys tend to have a good wander in the few couple of weeks, often zigzagging across their home territories and a little further afield, before settling down into a southward pattern.

 Some researchers such as Roy Dennis speculate that the Scandinavian ancestral genetic origin of our Scottish birds has left them with a tendency to fly west first (which would have kept them on a coastal course from Scandinavia). This can lead to some birds getting into trouble, especially if they end up to far out to sea- an osprey can catch a sea fish after all, but without anywhere to stop and eat it and rest, they soon die of exhaustion at sea.

Lets hope that our two Loch of the Lowes youngsters are exploring Perthshire and getting fully fit before choosing a safe and direct route south over the UK. Safe journeys wee ones!

Emma Rawling

Perthshire Ranger