Wildlife

Wild Osprey Scotland Recovery Welfare

Scottish osprey populations have recovered from extinction and now number over 250 pairs, but individual ospreys face welfare risks from persecution, collision and migration mortality.

Key Facts

Ospreys returned to breed in Scotland in 1954 and expanded naturally to England and Wales
Illegal persecution including shooting and nest destruction remains an ongoing threat
Satellite tagging has revealed migration routes from Scotland to West Africa each winter
Power line collisions cause significant mortality, particularly for inexperienced juvenile birds
Breeding productivity at monitored nests exceeds requirements for population growth

Welfare Considerations

Scottish osprey recovery is a conservation triumph requiring continued protection from persecution. Each individual osprey faces real mortality risks from human activity throughout its life.

What You Can Do

Report suspected osprey persecution immediately to the RSPB Wildlife Crime Unit
Support power line marking programmes that reduce osprey collision mortality
Visit osprey nesting sites using designated public hides to enjoy this species without disturbance