Osprey Watch @ Kielder

Second pair of love birds return to Kielder  

Another pair of rare ospreys has returned to Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland.

The news that everyone has been waiting for duly arrived today when the birds were spotted in binoculars building their tree top nest on an artificial platform erected by the Forestry Commission.

The couple bred successfully for the first time last year in the 62,000 hectare (155,000 acre) wilderness last summer. 

Earlier this month experts revealed that the original Kielder osprey couple – which first bred in 2009 – were also back for a fourth year.

Martin Davison, Forestry Commission Ornithologist, said:"News that both pairs are back aiming to raise more chicks is a massive step forward. The second pair arrived a little late, causing us one or two anxious moments.  But the prospects are looking good and we hope to add to the nine chicks raised in Kielder since the species returned to breed for the first time in at least 200 years.”

Last year’s first time parents raised two chicks – one of which was much less developed than the other, but which nonetheless pulled through to grace the skies above Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Reservoir along with its sibling.  The nest was monitored from afar to avoid disturbing the family.  But this year cameras have been erected and live footage will soon be beamed into Kielder Castle Visitor Centre and Leaplish Waterside Park for visitors to enjoy. A nest cam on the original nest is already showing live images at Kielder Castle.

On the “to-do” list for the ospreys is a rapid courtship, laying and incubating eggs, nurturing and feeding youngsters and teaching them how to hunt on Kielder Water.  And all before the end of August!

Kielder is only the second location in England where ospreys have naturally recolonised after becoming extinct in the mid-19th century.

You can also follow the birds' fortunes at  http://kielderospreys.wordpress.com/ and sign up for regular updates on Twitter @KielderOspreys

To record your own osprey sightings go to the VisitKielder Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kielder.

Kielder Osprey Watch 2012 is organised by the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, the RSPB and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest site.  To find out more go to http://www.visitkielder.com/