23 July 2010

 

After two years of failed attempts, a pair of ospreys have returned to Loch Lomond and successfully reared three chicks. Last seen nesting in 2008, the adults returned to the area in May.

 

National Park Rangers patrolled and cordoned off an area close to the nest site to minimise any disruption to the birds and have worked with Forestry Commission Scotland and RSPB Scotland to ring the chicks in order to track their activity.

 

Speaking about the return, National Park Natural Heritage Manager Alan Bell said:

 

“There are only 148 pairs of osprey known to breed in the UK and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is very fortunate to be the summer home of several breeding pairs of ospreys. The National Park Ranger Service is delighted to see the birds in this particular nest fledging successfully. Now that they have been ringed, we hope they will return here in a few years as adults to breed.”