Ospreys have a clear pattern to their lives. Because we’ve studied and tracked them, we know roughly what they’ll be doing from the moment they’re born.
For at least four to five weeks after that first flight (fledging), the young return to the nest to feed from fish delivered by the male.
In the autumn, the adult Ospreys leave Scotland for West Africa. The mother goes first, while the male stays with the young birds, keeping them provisioned with fish until they’re fit enough to migrate. First to go is the oldest chick, then the family starts to break up until – once the last young has migrated – the male can also set off on his migration: job done!
The juveniles find their way to Africa without any help from their parents. They fly from Scotland over Spain and Portugal, through North Africa, to Senegal and The Gambia in West Africa. Arriving in October, they spend the winters in the coastal areas and mangrove forests, where fish are plentiful.
World-renowned ornithologist Roy Dennis is the man behind the work of the Highland Foundation for Wildlife. Read on...
Logie, one of our Ospreys,
is set to feature in a major
BBC Radio 4 documentary
on migration. Read on...
How protected are Ospreys? What more can we do to ensure they’re safe from persecution? Read on...