Scotland’s oldest osprey lays a record-breaking 53rd egg

The famed female osprey, who has been returning to SWT's Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre for the last 18 years, produced her first egg of this year's breeding season on 7 April. The egg is a record-breaker as the 53rd egg to be laid by the female - considerably more than the average for an osprey.

53 eggs - probably more to come
Claire Troup, SWT's Perthshire Ranger, explained: "53 eggs in one lifetime is an unbelievable feat for an osprey female, especially considering that the average lifespan of an osprey is eight-years-old and that females usually produce around 12 eggs in that time.

"We were delighted to welcome our female back to Lowes this year, as we had been worried she wouldn't make the arduous 3,000 mile journey from West Africa due to her advancing age. We also thought that the chances of her producing yet more eggs were slim as her age would have impacts on her fertility, but she has done it again despite the odds!

"We expect to see her lay one or two more eggs over the next few days. The incubation process will then begin and, if successful, we could to have some osprey chicks to watch over in just 6 weeks time. The events of the osprey's breeding process can be watched at our visitor centre or online at www.swt.org.uk thanks to a high-definition camera we have positioned beside the nest. "

Round-the-clock watch
Now the first egg is laid, SWT staff, helped by nearly 70 volunteers, will take it in turns to man the round-the-clock watch to safeguard the osprey and their eggs. Once a common sight in Britain, the osprey was all but extinct by 1916 due to persecution. Conservation efforts continue to re-establish the species as part of Scotland's rich wildlife.

Peter Ferns, SWT Visitor Centre Manager, said: "Once on the bring of extinction, today 200 pairs of osprey breed in Scotland during the summer months thanks to conservation efforts over recent years. Our female has made a remarkable contribution to this repopulation. She has already fledged 44 chicks and ospreys now breed at sites all around Perthshire thanks to this one female.

"Over 20,000 visitors come to Loch of the Lowes each year to enjoy watching the osprey. The breeding journey is always exciting but the fact that she is defying the odds makes watching our old girl all the more remarkable. Our high definition nest camera makes viewing the action a far more exciting and intimate experience. You can see stunning views of the nest and close up pictures of the bird and her chicks."

Ospreys are just one of many wildlife attractions at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve. Red squirrels and pine martens are regularly seen along with woodland birds of all types and sizes.

SWT's Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre is open all year, offering visitors the chance to observe wildlife in its natural setting while ensuring minimum disturbance to the animals.