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Ospreys are Spectacular fish-eating birds of prey with a wingspan of nearly five feet. Find out more about Ospreys with our Osprey Fact File or check out the BBC's Osprey web page. Other Cumbrian Ospreys : In 2010, one of the Bassenthwaite chicks from 2007 bred with another unknown Osprey and laid eggs in South Cumbria but unfortunately none of the eggs hatched, apparently not unusual for young inexperienced Osprey pairs. The pair were later seen on the coast nest building in late Summer which is known as frustration behaviour and often occurs after an unsuccessful breeding season. An Osprey believed to be another Bassenthwaite chick from 2007 was seen regularly around the Thirlmere area during 2010. Hopefully this one will pair up in the future. |
Other Great Places to See Ospreys:
- Leicestershire - Rutland Water,
- Scotland - Loch Garten and Loch of the Lowes
- Wales - Glaslyn
- Northumberland - Kielder
Cumbrian Ospreys History:
In 2001 a pair of ospreys which nested beside Bassenthwaite Lake became the first wild osprey to breed in the Lake District for over 150 years.
The birds were encouraged to stay with the help of a purpose built nest provided by the Forestry Commission and the Lake District National Park. This was the culmination of several years of hard work, Ospreys have summered in the Lake District since the mid 1990's, on their return in 2001 they immediately added sticks to the nest.
Once the eggs were laid, wardens kept a round the clock watch to prevent disturbance and deter egg thieves. Ospreys usually lay three eggs, which take about six weeks to hatch. The young stay in the nest for six or seven weeks. In late summer, the adult female will migrate south, leaving the male to teach the youngsters the art of fishing.
Bassenthwaite Lake is a National Nature Reserve, owned and managed by the Lake District National Park. Most of the surrounding woodland is managed by the Forestry Commission and provides valuable habitats for wildlife.
Threats: Although in the UK the osprey population has doubled during the 1990s, ospreys remain the fourth rarest bird of prey in the UK. Their eggs, are stolen by collectors and if water quality deteriorates, a reduction in fish could have a dramatic effect on the number of young birds raised. Finally as ospreys migrate, they arevulnerable to habitat changes across southern Europe and Africa, and risk being shot by hunters.
