Two ospreys ready to fledge at Wigtown Bay

One of the Wigtown ospreys being ringed. Photo credit Paul Tarling, RSPB

The chicks, now named JD and JC, and are both looking healthy and ready to fledge. One chick, JC, is markedly heavier than the second, meaning JC may be female, since in raptor species, the females are usually larger than the males.

Rings fitted
Ian Brown, RSPB Scotland's community and wildlife officer in Wigtown said: "Ringing chicks is always a high point of the osprey season, as you get a really good look at the birds for the first time. Both our chicks were healthy, and are clearly getting lots of fish from their attentive parents. I'd expect them to be trying a few test flights in a couple of week's time, though they're likely to remain around the nest area until at least early August."

Effort to ring all osprey chicks
An effort is made to ring all ospreys hatched in Scotland as it provides invaluable information on their movements and population. On one leg, birds are given a numbered metal ring from the British Trust for Ornithology, and on the other leg, they're fitted with a uniquely marked plastic colour ring to allow birds to be identified by sight.

The Wigtown Bay Ospreys were ringed by RSPB staff with assistance from Ciril Ostroznik, from the North Solway Ringers, who climbed the tree to retrieve the chicks before they could be lowered to the ground.

Migration
Ospreys migrate to West Africa during the colder winter months, with the females departing first, and the males remaining near the nest site with their chicks until they too are ready to leave.

Live and recorded images of the Wigtown Bay ospreys and their chicks can be seen in the visitor room, which is jointly managed by RSPB and Dumfries and Galloway Council's Countryside Service, and situated within Wigtown County Buildings. If you would like more information, please contact the visitor facilities in the County Buildings on 01988 402673.

Volunteers are still being sought to help out in the room for the rest of the season. If you would like to know more, contact Ian on 07919227854.