T in the Park boss says ospreys never skipped a beat during Balado days

T in the Park director Geoff Ellis has revealed that an osprey made regular appearances at the festival’s old home at Balado but nobody batted an eyelid.

The DF Concerts boss, fresh from securing crucial planning consent, has insisted this summer’s show at Strathallan Castle can co-exist with protected birds of prey nesting on the estate.

And to prove his point, he told The Courier Balado had its own osprey that attended year after year and appeared unfazed by the loud music, crowds and lights.

“We had one that used to come into the T in the Park site when the festival was on,” he said. “It wasn’t nesting on the site but it was nesting near one of the landowner’s houses.

“He used to point it out to us sitting on the roof of a portable building on the Friday night, just watching what was going on in one of the backstage areas. It never actually went on to the stage.”

Mr Ellis’s claims have been backed by celebrity ornithologist Bill Oddie, who said ospreys were “pretty good at not being spooked by noise”.

Last night scores of T in the Park supporters gathered at Strathallan Castle to celebrate this week’s planning decision.