Wildlife

Wild Osprey Migration Welfare

Osprey migration from UK breeding sites to West Africa involves extraordinary physiological demands and mortality risks that satellite tracking has illuminated.

Key Facts

UK ospreys migrate to West Africa between August and September, a journey of 3,000-5,000 km
First-year birds migrate without parental guidance using innate navigation
Migrants cross the Sahara Desert, covering 600 km without food or water in some flights
Shooting of ospreys in Mediterranean countries during migration causes preventable mortality
Return migration in spring sees adults arriving back from March to April

Welfare Considerations

Osprey migration welfare involves both the physiological demands of the journey and human-caused mortality risks across the flyway. International cooperation to reduce shooting is essential.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International's flyway protection work for migratory raptors
Follow satellite-tracked ospreys on the RSPB's osprey tracking website
Report suspected osprey persecution during migration to the relevant country's wildlife authority