Postmortem results of LM12, a male osprey that bred on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve, have revealed that the bird died of natural causes.

Ospreys are a Schedule 1 protected species in the UK and LM12 was a particularly high-profile bird, so when he was found dead near Dunkeld on Friday 3 May, Police Scotland investigated the death.

Police Scotland has determined there was no criminality involved in LM12’s death.

Sara Rasmussen, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Perthshire Ranger, said:

“We would like to thank Police Scotland for their efforts in establishing there was no criminality involved in the death of LM12.

“The postmortem has revealed that the male osprey died of bleeding from stomach ulcers. There was no indication of lead or any other poisoning; evidently, old age played its part. We think he was at least 15 years old.

“This finding is a great relief to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and I’m sure to our visitors, staff, volunteers and the thousands of people who tune into the Loch of the Lowes osprey webcam each week and have followed LM12 over the years.”

LM12 returned to Loch of the Lowes in March 2024 for his 13th breeding season and raised 21 chicks at the site. For the past five years, he has bred with female osprey NC0, with whom he raised seven chicks.

Female osprey NC0 remained at Loch of the Lowes throughout the summer, where she was seen pair bonding with another male osprey. As of last week, both ospreys have now departed on their annual migration to overwinter in warmer climes. It is hoped that both will return next year for their first successful breeding season together.

Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre is open to the public seven-days a week from 10:30-17:00 until the end of October when it changes to winter opening hours. For more information, click here.