THE last of three osprey chicks has hatched at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perthshire.
The final eegg hatched at 7.46pm on Monday after a small hole was spotted in its marbled egg the previous evening.
After hatching, male osprey LM12 returned to its nest with a Perch fish to feed his newly hatched family.
Unfortunately LM12 has sustained an eye injury, which is believed to be minor, but will be monitored over the coming weeks.
Sara Rasmussen, Perthshire Ranger for the Scottish Wildlife Trust commented: “It’s fantastic that all of NC0’s eggs have hatched this season. Our team of staff and volunteers have worked around the clock to ensure the ospreys can breed successfully without being disturbed.
“It is immensely satisfying to know that the long days and nights protecting the nest have paid off, and ongoing monitoring will contribute to the next step in the chicks’ remarkable journey.
“We’ll continue to keep an eye on the young ospreys as they grow, and hopefully all three youngsters will successfully fledge and migrate south at the end of the summer.”
Ospreys have only started to recover in numbers since the 1960s, after they became extinct in Britain for much of the 20th century. According to the RSPB, the Osprey re-colonised in 1954 after Scandinavian birds migrated to the UK.
Now, around 300 Osprey pairs breed together every summer, consistently contributing to the growth in population.
The ever-growing numbers are also attributed to efforts made by conservation charities in Scotland, such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
The public can visit Loch Lowes seven days a week and can also view the osprey activity on the trust’s live webcam from anywhere in the world.
