Osprey chicks fledge despite disturbances

Four osprey chicks have fledged in the West Midlands this year, despite "serious challenges" caused by human disturbance, a bird conservation group said.

Two breeding pairs each raised two chicks at a site in Staffordshire, the location of which has not been publicly disclosed to protect the birds.

The birds are amber on the UK list of Birds of Conservation Concern, due to historical persecution and low breeding numbers.

Speaking of the success of the chicks at the site, Paul Hopwood, the secretary of the West Midlands Ringing Group, said it was "brilliant for the West Midlands".

"Unbelievable really, when you think 2023 was the first confirmed breeding record in the West Midlands from what we understand in recent history, probably in hundreds of years," he said.

While the ringing group has been excited by the success of the two breeding pairs at the site, there has been much concern over the disturbances humans have caused to the nests.

It has led to reports being made to Staffordshire Police, whom have been contacted for comment.

"They are a very popular species to watch and photograph, and we've had a number of people getting too close to the nest which has caused the adults to leave the nest and alarm call," Hopwood said.

When the adults temporarily flee the nest, the chicks are significantly more susceptible to predation, he added.

Ospreys are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to interfere with them or their nests.

Hopwood added: "It's really frustrating because at the end of the day, the birds come first and bird welfare is paramount.

"So anything that disturbs them or is likely to have an impact on that species would be really upsetting when we put a lot of hard work to into it."

The group said it would be implementing further precautions next year to prevent these disturbances and to identify the people disturbing the birds.

They have also delayed posting about the chicks on social media until they had fledged.

The four chicks, believed to be two males and two females, have now been ringed by the group to track their future movements and help provide more information about the species, which will benefit conservation efforts.

Ospreys were hunted to extinction in England by the start of the 20th Century, but have been reintroduced thanks to the work of conservationists.

And the ringing group hopes to see more ospreys in the area over the coming years.

"We should be able to increase the population more," Hopwood said.

"We're working with partners, landowners to build more osprey platforms to encourage more breeding birds. Over the next few years, we're expecting more birds."

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