Osprey webcam helps reserve visitor numbers to soar

A nature reserve which installed a camera to give people a nest-side view of a breeding pair of osprey said the digital addition has increased visitor numbers.

Hailed as the reserve's success story, the pair returned to Norfolk Wildlife Trust's (NWT) Ranworth Broad site near Wroxham and have laid eggs for a second year in a row.

In anticipation of their return, a camera was installed by the nesting platform at the end of March to give people unable to get to the site a close-up and personal view of the birds.

Teala Leader, visitor centre co-ordinator at NWT, said: "Learning they would come back again, everyone has been excited about that."

Last year marked the first time osprey chicks were born in the East of England for 250 years.

Adam Houlgate, reserves manager, said the species is "faithful" to the nesting site and was hopeful they would return.

He said: "In Norfolk we've been used to seeing them flying over for migration in the spring or the autumn, so we always thought maybe we have a chance of attracting them back."

A nesting platform was first put up on the site in 2013; however, it failed to attract an osprey.

The reserve tried unsuccessfully again in 2022 and 2023, but managed to attract a pair of osprey in 2024, before welcoming two chicks last year.

This year, three eggs have been laid and are expected to hatch by the end of May, before the birds migrate to west Africa in the winter months.

Houlgate said even as a reserve warden, he never got to see "that depth of insight" into the birds until the live-streamed camera was installed.

Leader added: "We've had osprey visiting here for years and years, and when we found out they were actually settling down and building a nest, having the opportunity to see that up and close was really important to us and all our visitors.

"We have seen a lot more footfall and a lot more visitors to our website," she said.

Brian Smith has now caught a glimpse of the osprey for a second time this year.

He said: "It's made my day to see it again. I like to see rare birds; it's good to have ospreys breeding in Norfolk now. I've seen them all over the country, but to see them in Norfolk... It's just great to see them.

"It's been a long time for their return. I think they used to breed in the county years and years ago — it's a success story. I just love nature, especially birds."

Houlgate hoped the parents would return again next year.

He said: "The more chicks we have, the more likely it is they will return here, they are faithful to their breeding ground, so we would expect them to come here.

"These are big predatory birds, and they need their own territory. We will not be putting another nest platform next to the other one and expecting the chicks to come back and breed there... we are going to have to look beyond the boundaries of NWT Ranworth. We have other reserves in the area nearby, which I think would be very suitable."

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