Conservationists in Scotland have taken an unusual step to save two osprey chicks at Loch Arkaig, removing them from their Highland home and relocating them to Spain.
The decision to intervene was made after the male osprey – known as Louis – was observed bringing an inadequate number of fish back to the nest to sustain his chicks.
At the same time, there was the opportunity for the chicks to enter a reintroduction project in Spain.
"We think it would be needlessly dogmatic to let the chicks die when this option is available,” says George Anderson, a spokesperson at Woodland Trust Scotland.
"We waited to see if Louis' performance would pick up but it hasn’t.”
Louis has become famous in recent years, thanks to the Woodland Trust’s live nest webcam at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest in Lochaber. He initially mated with Alia until 2020, but she didn’t reappear after migration in 2021.
He then joined up with Dorcha and they settled at a new nest. This year, they hatched three chicks, two of which have survived.
However, Louis “has been off his game recently” and failing to bring back enough fish for Dorcha and the chicks.
Male ospreys hunt for prey for the whole family. In previous years, he has been a good hunter and provider, normally bringing back four or five fish – even up to nine on one day. But this year he has only been bringing back one or no fish at all.
Whilst it is thought that the bad weather may be playing a part – and indeed, other nests seem to be having a tough time as well this year – it is thought that Louis is performing particularly badly, and it has been suggested that this may be his age, or perhaps an illness.
The two chicks were removed from the nest by a licensed raptor worker and given to the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, which is part of the project to reintroduce ospreys to the Valencia region in Spain. It is believed that the chicks have a better chance of survival via this project than being left in the wild at Loch Arkaig.
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