Perthshire locals are being encouraged to turn their eyes to the skies this month, as Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) local visitor centre, Loch of the Lowes, launches a competition to celebrate the imminent arrival of one of Scotland’s most magnificent bird species, the Osprey.
Claire Troup, Perthshire Ranger explained: “For the last 40 years, ospreys have been visiting Loch of the Lowes to nest and rear their young during the breeding season. The annual arrival of the osprey is a very exciting time for everyone at Loch of the Lowes and this year we decided to do something special to mark the event.
“The usual pattern is for the female osprey to arrive at the eyrie first. Within a week her mate arrives on the scene and breeding can commence. Once the eggs are laid, the male osprey assists with the incubation for the next six weeks. Visitors at our centre can follow the chicks’ journey from hatching to their eventual flight from the nest. The pattern this year could be different however, because our female could sadly be too old to make it here or to breed. Which ospreys will arrive this year and what they will do once they get here is unknown just now, which makes our watch all the more exciting.
“Last year, our female arrived at 2 pm on 30 March but we have heard that ospreys have already been sighted in Dumfries. Our ospreys could arrive any time from now onwards so we are asking everyone to keep a look out, either using an old-fashioned pair of binoculars or by logging on to view our web cam at www.swt.org.uk, which broadcasts live from the osprey nest site.
“If you do think you’ve spotted an osprey, email your sighting to lochofthelowes@swt.org.uk. The first person to spot the osprey landing on the nest will win a pair of binoculars.”
Ospreys were once a common species in Britain, but by 1916 the species were on the brink of extinction due to persecution. Thanks to tremendous conservation efforts ospreys are once again an established part of Scotland’s rich wildlife. The first pair returned to Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in 1969 and were only the fifth known pair in Scotland at that time.
Once the first egg of the season is laid, staff and nearly 70 volunteers will take it in turns to man the round-the-clock watch to safeguard these magnificent creatures, which come under threat from egg thieves.
Ospreys are just one of many wildlife attractions at the reserve. Home to many iconic Scottish species, red squirrels, pine martens and woodland birds of all types and sizes can be spotted by visiting the reserve.
**ENDS***
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is now open all year from 10 am – 5 pm, with 24 hour access to the hides. Admission costs are £3.50 per adult, £2.50 per concession, or £7 per family. SWT members get in for free, and there is a 10% discount on groups with over 11 people. For more information, visit www.swt.org.uk
- SWT is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 33,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
- SWT receives financial assistance and support from Scottish Natural Heritage.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Claire Troup, Perthshire Ranger, SWT
Tel: 01350727337 or email: ctroup@swt.org.uk
Peter Ferns, Visitor Centre Manager, SWT
Tel: 01350 727337or email: pferns@swt.org.uk
- Nicola McGovern, SWT PR Officer
Tel: 0131 312 4742 or email: nmcgovern@swt.org.uk