Anyone who has followed the story of Ospreys in England will know that they were originally wiped out through human persecution in the Victorian era. You would hope that in todays far more enlightened times that this would not be a recurring problem, but events in Rutland in the past thirteen months suggest this may not be the case.

Last spring two male birds - 06(00) and 32(05) - disappeared within a few days of each other from the same area in south-west Rutland. Their disappearances were highly suspicious and lead the RSPB to believe they had been illegally killed - most probably shot. Their view was shared by the local police who investigated the matter on their behalf. Then last week, 08(97) also went missing. Although they had not been reporting 08’s progress on the website so far this year - due to the continued threat of egg collecting - he had returned to Rutland on 29th March, a few days after his mate, 5N(04). They began incubating on 15th April and seemed to be progressing well. 08 was catching a good supply of fish and the birds were sharing incubation duties without problems.

Then everything changed. On Thursday 08 was absent from the nest all day, and still hadn’t returned by dark. They began to worry because they knew that 08 regularly fishes in the areas favoured by 06 and 32 before they disappeared last spring. Nothing changed on Friday and it soon became clear that he was not going to return. 08 is fourteen years old, but they had seen nothing in his behaviour to give any cause for concern. As ‘Lady’ at Loch of Lowes has shown, Ospreys can live well into their twenties. The only conclusion that can be drawn from 08’s disappearance is that he has suffered the same fate as 06 and 32. In all likelihood he has been shot according to the RSPB.

If an Osprey decides that the territory is overoccupied by other Ospreys - aren't they prone to seek out better ones?

I assume that is how repopulation works .

And as being relatively local to the area and in touch with both shooting and conservation communities locally I've picked up nothing much over the last few years of illegal raptor control and particularly control by shooting - quite the reverse !

Is this an unfounded allegation ?

Best wishes

Steve Parton

3 Ospreys disappearing from the same area will be treated as suspicious. The first 2 may just have moved on but would presumably have been sighted somewhere else. Unlikely that the latest one moved on with an active nest, its probably dead, same for the first 2 if haven't been seen anywhere else. Something seems to be happening to them, not necessarily been shot but it will be one of the possibilities.

An Osprey ha appeared at Lockwood beck in the last week or so could his be the one .

Hmmmm, other than not trusting the rspb as far as i could throw them....

If 08(97) is the resident male of a breeding pair, he would have chased off any contenders (i.e. 06(00) and 32(05)) within a few days of his arrival and pairing up with his mate which would explain last years disappearances.

As to his disappearance, as he had established a territory with a female it is unlikely he would move on. He may have died of natural causes (whilst Ospreys can live into their 20's and especially females, males are shorter lived. 14 years is probably a good age for a male osprey as average life expectancy would be 8 years old. Prey and food is abundant in Rutland (manly coarse fish but also trout as well), so they definitely didn't starve.

He could have been chased off due to disturbance (helicopter or similar) or other disturbance (i.e. mobbed by ravens or similar) and may yet come back if still alive.

Unless and until the RSPB turns up some physical proof, take what they say with a very large pinch of salt.

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Just My Tuppenceworth!!

Seems very suspicious that they all disappeared from the same area, I presume the police are looking into the people known to shoot or have persmission to shoot in this specific area of Rutland?

I would hate to believe that there are still people around who would shoot Osprey's or any other bird of prey for that matter.

Dan

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http://eclecticangler.blogspot.com/

Im with Stonepark on this and it requires Proof before starting with assumptions which can damage.

Ospreys are one of my favourite birds, with the oyster catcher being the number 1 for me,They are a pleasure to see each morning and the travel they do each year ,every year is only amazing.This year we gained some of the young chicks back and they have now nested and you can time them to the day near enough when they will return.

They are an every day occurence here in the lochs in Scotland and most anglers I know enjoy their company.

So if the RSPB are putting it around that they were shot it needs proof,before alarming statements are encouraged and damage the likes of "it was an angler who did it" just the ammunition the antis would like,but totally unfounded as anglers are very pro wildlife and enviroment.

If only the likes of the antis realised it.

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Kevin