Osprey

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are large, migratory birds of prey, uniquely adapted to dive for fish, with a dramatic comeback story from near-extinction in the UK due to persecution and pesticide use (DDT). They are known for their white underparts, brown upperparts, and distinct angled wings. They mate for life, nesting in trees or on platforms, with females incubating 2-4 eggs while the male hunts. 

Key Life History Aspects

• Breeding and Nesting: Ospreys return to breeding sites in spring (often to the same nest, or eyrie), with males engaging in aerial "sky-dances" to attract females. Eggs are laid 1-3 days apart, and incubation lasts 34-40 days.

• Feeding: They are specialists, feeding almost exclusively on fish, with males delivering up to 5 fish a day during peak chick-rearing times.

• Chick Development: Chicks fledge around 7-8 weeks, but still rely on the parents for food for several weeks after.

• Migration: They are migratory, with UK birds traveling to West Africa for the winter.

• Lifespan: While many chicks do not survive their first migration, adults can live for 15-20 years or more in the wild.

• Conservation Status: Once extinct in the UK as a breeding bird (by 1916), they have recolonized and now boast around 250-300 pairs, mainly in Scotland, following successful conservation efforts. 

Ospreys are highly territorial during the nesting season but otherwise are solitary, and in winter they can be found alone or in small, loose groups.