Ospreys migrate to West Africa for winter after breeding in the UK and face multiple welfare threats during migration and on their wintering grounds.
Ospreys on migration face acute welfare risks from shooting in areas where illegal raptor persecution continues. Birds that survive non-lethal wounding face impaired survival prospects in subsequent seasons. The energetic demands of long-distance migration create vulnerability to adverse weather events that slow progress and deplete fuel reserves. On wintering grounds, conflict with fishermen occasionally results in persecution of birds perceived as competing for catch. Satellite tracking has revealed these vulnerabilities in detail, enabling targeted conservation action along key migration routes and at wintering sites.