Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust

INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN BOLT, June 2000   Dr Stephen Bolt works for Anglian Water as Head of Environment Affairs. He has been closely associated with the Osprey Project since its inception. He is pictured here with one of the first batch of Ospreys translocated in 1996. (Notice the red ring.)

Why are Anglian Water funding the Osprey Project?

Anglian Water is not just funding the project - we are an active partner in the Osprey team. Anglian Water is a major provider of water and environmental services. The environment is central to our business and the quality of life. We take water from the environement, treat it and supply our customers. We collect and treat their waste-water before returning it to the environment. Increasingly, Anglian Water is looking at how we can become a more sustainable business and as part of that process we have set ourselves sustaibability targets. One key target is to increase the biodiversity of our sites. The Osprey Project is one of the projects that can help us achieve this objective at Rutland Water (and hopeully some of our other reservoirs in the future).

In addition, Anglian Water has an enviornmental policy that states we will maintain and enhance the conservation value of our sites. Clearly ospreys breeding at or around Rutland Water fulfills this objective.

How many more years will the translocation project run for? At what stage will you feel that it has been a success?

Initially the translocations were planned to be for five years, and the steering group (with English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB as well as the project partners) to review after five years. This year is the fifth year and as such no decision has been made. However, even if we feel there is no need to bring further birds down from Scotland, the project will, of course continue with the released birds returning to Rutland. Anglian Water is committed to continue to support and actively participate in the project for the forseeable future. Right from the start of the project we made it clear that monitoring and protection of the birds would need to continue long after the releases cease.

The project has already been a success in that we have returned birds and they are behaving as expected at Rutland Water. However, ulitmate success must be a viable self sustaining population of birds in England as a direct result of our programme. Of course we would like this to be based on a population at Rutland Water!

What aspect of the project have you personally found most exciting and enjoyable?

Most exciting aspects of the project has probably been the satellite tracking, although I personally enjoy any visits I am able to make to Rutland with birds on site.

What has been your best moment during the project?

The best moments for me were the first flights of the first year's ospreys in 1996 and then the first return of a bird from Africa in 1999. I can't wait for the first successful breeding!

How much time do you personally spend on the project? What are your other areas of responsibility?

Nothing like enough! I am responsible for managing the Environment team in Anglian Water. This dedicated team of 15 is responsiblie for all aspects of environmental work within Anglian Water. Check out the Anglian Water Web site.

Would you consider other re-introductions?

I am always open to suggestions, but re-introductions must be taken very seriously and must fulfil International criteria. We are involved with English Nature with the Pool Frog investigations as part of their Species Recovery programme. If Pool Frogs are indeed native species than this may result in re-introduction of Pool Frogs led by English Nature.

Are other AW reservoirs suitable for Ospreys?

Yes: We have 14 reservoirs, of which Hollowell, Ravensthorpe, Pitsford and Grafham are relatively close to Rutland Water. In time, perhaps the ospreys will also start using the East Anglian estuaries! There are no plans, however, for reintroductions any where else other than Rutland Water. If all goes well, we will consider artificial nesting platforms at some of these reservoirs.

Are you a birdwatcher? If so where do you spend most time watching birds? And what's your favourite bird? (apart from Ospreys!)

Yes - my nearest nature reserve to where I live and where I go most is Lackford nature reserve, managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The site is based on old gravel workings and SWT have exciting plans. Very good for Hobby and passage migrants. I also go to the Norfolk/Suffolk coast a lot.

Favourite bird? Probably other birds of prey such as Hobby, Marsh Harrier etc.