A record-breaking osprey has been described as “incredible” by experts after defying expectations and returning to Perthshire for her 21st year.
However, they are not the only ones mounting a vigil as members of Wildlife Village a new blog set up to replace the one closed down by SWT have also been keeping a keen eye on proceedings.
Member Deirdre wrote, “Just raised a glass to Lady while she enjoys her Dunkeld fish supper the first of many!” and Martha from the USA echoed these sentiments, saying, “Here’s a raised glass of champagne from the North Americans! Good health and peace to everyone!”
After outliving two mates in her lifetime, it is now left for Lady to wait until her latest known as Laird also returns to Perthshire, which is expected to happen within the next few days. However, because of her advancing years, it is not known whether she is fertile enough to breed again.
“After mating we would usually expect a female to lay between two to four eggs in early April and six weeks later the eggs should hatch,” Mr Potter said.
“A lot is hanging on a successful breeding season this year. If we have osprey chicks and can raise enough money we hope to satellite tag the chicks to track them during their migration.
“This will allow us to collect valuable data such as key resting points and obstacles, which could help us take action to make osprey migrations safer for the birds.”To keep an eye on the latest progress being made by the Loch of the Lowes ospreys, the webcam can be viewed at www.swt.org.uk. To join the Wildlife Village blog go to www.wildlifevillage.co.uk.Arriving fashionably late, Lady swooped over Loch of the Lowes on Monday evening to reclaim the nest where she has raised 48 chicks.
While fans watching via webcam were already certain they recognised her, it was officially confirmed that Scotland’s most famous osprey had come back home.
Wildlife experts positively identified Lady with a close-up image of the bird’s eye seen from the nest camera run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT).
SWT’s north-east reserve manager Robert Potter said, “As our resident female osprey is not ringed, the only way to positively identify her is to view a close-up image of her iris, which has distinctive markings.
“To get the close-up required we need the bird to sit on the nest for a reasonable length of time in daytime hours. At the first possible opportunity we used the camera to zoom in on the bird.
“To our delight and astonishment the close-up allowed us to confirm that this bird is in fact our resident female osprey, known by many as Lady.”
However, just hours after she settled into her nest, Lady was forced to defend her position overlooking the loch.
Two more ospreys have been spotted at the Dunkeld reserve and, while their identity remains unconfirmed, there are suggestions that at least one could be challenging the older bird.
Wildlife experts believe that they are either Lady’s usual mate and a new female interloper, or else a new pair attempting to oust the famous resident from her nest.
Mr Potter said the events added some “intrigue” to the unfolding drama.
“Seeing these additional two ospreys around the reserve is an unexpected but marvellous sign of the wildlife which is thriving here at Loch of the Lowes,” he added.’Love rival'”One possibility is that one of these birds could be the male mate of our resident female from last year. In this case the other bird could be an interloping female or ‘love rival’ who will be trying to tempt the male away from our female and take ownership of the nest.
“Another possibility is that these two birds are already pair-bonded as a mating unit. In this case they could also be trying to take over the nest.”
Undeterred by her advancing years, Lady has been holding her ground against these young pretenders and is believed to have already seen them off, as the pair were seen flying down to the other side of the loch.
Lady is said to have “baffled” bird experts and enthusiasts across the world as the average lifespan of an osprey is eight years and Lady is now believed to be around 26. A mystery illness also proved near fatal last year and, although she was able to leave Perthshire for Africa in August, few expected her to have the strength to return this year.
“This bird is an incredible specimen of nature,” Mr Potter added. “Last year we thought she would die on her nest but, at the 11th hour, she managed to regain her strength and today, despite the odds, is looking healthy after just completing a 3000-mile migration from West Africa.
“Having laid 58 eggs in its lifetime, with 48 chicks going on to hatch and successfully fledge the nest, this one individual has single-handedly made a significant contribution to boosting osprey numbers breeding in Scotland.”
Staff and volunteers at the Dunkeld reserve will now launch a 24-hour protection watch-funded by the SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund and the People’s Postcode Lottery-to keep Lady safe from wildlife crime.
Continued…
Arriving fashionably late, Lady swooped over Loch of the Lowes on Monday evening to reclaim the nest where she has raised 48 chicks.
While fans watching via webcam were already certain they recognised her, it was officially confirmed that Scotland’s most famous osprey had come back home.
Wildlife experts positively identified Lady with a close-up image of the bird’s eye seen from the nest camera run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT).
SWT’s north-east reserve manager Robert Potter said, “As our resident female osprey is not ringed, the only way to positively identify her is to view a close-up image of her iris, which has distinctive markings.
“To get the close-up required we need the bird to sit on the nest for a reasonable length of time in daytime hours. At the first possible opportunity we used the camera to zoom in on the bird.
“To our delight and astonishment the close-up allowed us to confirm that this bird is in fact our resident female osprey, known by many as Lady.”
However, just hours after she settled into her nest, Lady was forced to defend her position overlooking the loch.
Two more ospreys have been spotted at the Dunkeld reserve and, while their identity remains unconfirmed, there are suggestions that at least one could be challenging the older bird.
Wildlife experts believe that they are either Lady’s usual mate and a new female interloper, or else a new pair attempting to oust the famous resident from her nest.
Mr Potter said the events added some “intrigue” to the unfolding drama.
“Seeing these additional two ospreys around the reserve is an unexpected but marvellous sign of the wildlife which is thriving here at Loch of the Lowes,” he added.’Love rival'”One possibility is that one of these birds could be the male mate of our resident female from last year. In this case the other bird could be an interloping female or ‘love rival’ who will be trying to tempt the male away from our female and take ownership of the nest.
“Another possibility is that these two birds are already pair-bonded as a mating unit. In this case they could also be trying to take over the nest.”
Undeterred by her advancing years, Lady has been holding her ground against these young pretenders and is believed to have already seen them off, as the pair were seen flying down to the other side of the loch.
Lady is said to have “baffled” bird experts and enthusiasts across the world as the average lifespan of an osprey is eight years and Lady is now believed to be around 26. A mystery illness also proved near fatal last year and, although she was able to leave Perthshire for Africa in August, few expected her to have the strength to return this year.
“This bird is an incredible specimen of nature,” Mr Potter added. “Last year we thought she would die on her nest but, at the 11th hour, she managed to regain her strength and today, despite the odds, is looking healthy after just completing a 3000-mile migration from West Africa.
“Having laid 58 eggs in its lifetime, with 48 chicks going on to hatch and successfully fledge the nest, this one individual has single-handedly made a significant contribution to boosting osprey numbers breeding in Scotland.”
Staff and volunteers at the Dunkeld reserve will now launch a 24-hour protection watch-funded by the SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund and the People’s Postcode Lottery-to keep Lady safe from wildlife crime.
Continued…