Mark Beaumont, the renowned Scottish cyclist and ambassador of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, made a visit to Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre yesterday (Wednesday 2 March) to see the home of the UK’s oldest known breeding osprey, a bird which is hoped to return to Scotland in less than one month.
Beginning the countdown to see whether the famous bird will return for its 20th breeding season, Beaumont learnt more about the remarkable history of this individual osprey, which, at around 24 years of age, has lived over three times longer than an average osprey and has produced and successfully fledged 46 chicks from the nest.
Mark Beaumont became an ambassador of the Scottish Wildlife Trust last year, and he is also a supporter of the People’s Postcode Lottery, the UK’s lottery for local charities.
Mark said: “This bird is obviously a phenomenal specimen of Scotland’s wildlife. Through its remarkably long breeding life, its individual contribution to boosting the numbers of osprey breeding in Scotland makes this bird’s life cause for celebration.
“And this bird has some impressive statistics to back up its claim to fame. While I cycled 18,296 miles around the world in the record-breaking time of 194 days and 17 hours, this osprey has travelled 108,000 miles in 108 weeks over the last 19 years. The big question now is will she make it back for another breeding season this year.”
Robert Potter, Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Reserve Manager for north-east Scotland, said: “This bird has reached an unprecedented age and it would be absolutely remarkable if she returned to Perthshire to reoccupy the nest site at Loch of the Lowes this year. To do so, she will have had to overcome many obstacles, including her 3,000 mile migration to West Africa last August, followed by surviving the last six months there and then the completion of another 3,000 mile migration back to Scotland.
“The exciting thing is if she has survived so far she should be making her way up the west coast of Europe right now.
“She is an incredibly hardy bird, which was proved last season when she recovered from a spate of ill health to successfully bring up her two chicks. As the drama was followed by thousands of wildlife enthusiasts, it’s safe to say that there is a big public interest in whether she makes it back again this year, and what will happen on the nest this year if she does.
“If she doesn’t make it back, we would hope that another bird will occupy the nest and we can begin a new chapter in osprey watching at Loch of the Lowes this year. As always, we will be prepared to protect any osprey which nests at Loch of the Lowes this year. Thanks to SITA Tayside Biodiversity Action Fund, we can man a 24-hour osprey watch between March and May.
“We are also raising money to track the next osprey chicks to hatch on the wildlife reserve. So, overall, this should be a very exciting year for osprey at Loch of the Lowes.”
The Scottish Wildlife Trust operates an HD nest camera, which streams live footage to www.swt.org.uk
Since its launch in 2006, players of the People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £1,343,787.20 for the Scottish Wildlife Trust helping the charity to maintain over 120 wildlife reserves across Scotland and protecting amazing native species such as ospreys, pine martens, peregrines, and seals.
Speaking of this unique fundraising initiative, Mark added: “After travelling around the world on the seat of a bike, the idea of going ‘an extra mile’ to achieve something special is one which means a lot to me. That’s why I admire the People’s Postcode Lottery, the UK’s first community lottery which goes that extra mile for UK charities.”