Northumberland osprey back from Africa

Apr 3 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

HE’S back. The male osprey who last year fathered the first chicks born in Northumberland for over 200 years has survived his migratory flight from sub-Saharan Africa.

Hopes are now high that the female eagle will arrive over the next few days to join her mate in Kielder Water & Forest Park.

The male was spotted on the new live TV feed which will transmit images from the nest to Kielder Castle so visitors can watch as the action unfolds.

Forestry Commission ranger Malte Iden said: “We were absolutely thrilled to see him safely back.

“He has undertaken a mammoth round trip journey of 10,000 miles since he left Kielder in August. So far he’s been doing some tidying up on the nest making sure everything is just right for the arrival of his partner. She’s obviously quite house proud.”

The Forestry Commission used tree climbers to erect two cameras at the nest site built on a platform high in a tree, but until the male actually showed up there was no guarantee he would use the same location.

But fortunately he wasn’t camera shy and has returned to the place where he helped raise the three chicks last year, meaning visitors will now be able to get a grandstand view of the nest.

Neville Geddes, from the Forestry Commission, said: “It’s now fingers crossed that the female makes it back safely. Once she does the two will spark their romance with an aerial courtship display and settle down to raise a second brood.

“Raising an osprey family is a hectic job – not least because they are on a fairly strict timetable. They have until early September to mate, produce chicks and teach the offspring to fish for themselves before going their separate ways and heading south.”

Kielder Water & Forest Park has been on the flight path of ospreys returning to the UK for some years.

But last year for the first time the birds decided to take advantage of a ready-made nest site and the plentiful supply of fish from Kielder Water, managed by Northumberland Water.

Providing all goes to plan, the Kielder Partnership will organise a viewing area with the RSPB and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Meanwhile, views of the nest will be streamed live to Kielder Castle from 10am to 4pm every day.

The stars of Kielder: Page 28