Translocation - collection from Scotland

Each year many Osprey nests in Scotland are monitored from the time the adults return in the spring. This work is carried out by a dedicated independent monitoring team co-ordinated by Roy Dennis. At about 5 weeks old many of the chicks are weighed, measured and ringed, with a coloured plastic darvic ring and a metal BTO ring. The colour of the plastic ring indicates the year of fledging and each ring has a large number which enables individual birds to be identified from a distance.

During the translocation phase of the project, 6-week-old chicks were chosen from broods of three or sometimes two, in accordance with the licence requirements. These chicks were placed carefully in cardboard boxes and, overnight, driven down to England. All donor nests were on private estates or on Forestry Commission land.

Click here to read a diary kept by Tim Mackrill, during a visit to Scotland to collect the chicks in July 2000.

Roy Dennis collecting young Ospreys from an unusually low nest.	Preparing to weigh the young birds which are lying docile on the grass
This bird now has a red-coloured plastic ring on its right leg. The ring has a number which will allow it to be identified later.	An Anglian Water van arrives in Scotland to pick up an unusual consignment!

Click here to read about the birds' first few weeks at Rutland Water.