A SCOTS wildlife reserve has announced the reunion of an osprey couple on Wednesday just in time for breeding season.
The male osprey LM12 has returned to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve on Wednesday 27 March at 16:38.
This marks his 13th breeding season, whilst his mate for the past four years, female osprey NC0, has been at the reserve since 8 March.
NC0 has been observed on camera preparing their nest with twigs and moss.
The two have seven chicks with LM12 having raised 21 in total at the site.
They recently appeared on the current series of the BBC’s Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo.
Ospreys began to overcome their 20th century extinction in the 1960s, and approximately 300 pairs of the birds breed in the UK each summer.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Perthshire Ranger, Sara Rasmussen, said: “It’s wonderful to see LM12 back for another breeding season with NC0.”
“He’s now older than the average age of most adult ospreys and after a tough season last year I really wasn’t sure if we would see him again.
“I’m delighted that he’s looking in good condition and the osprey breeding season is now underway.”
Conservation charities such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust are credited to the recovery of ospreys, whilst players of the People’s Postcode Lottery provide funding to the Species Protection Team through the Postcode Planet Trust.
The Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 10.30am to 5pm. People can also tune in to the live webcam feed.
