Dunkeld ospreys fledge successfully

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Osprey chicks have now fledged from their nest at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre in Perthshire.Young female osprey PF4 took to the skies for her first maiden flight around the stunning loch near Dunkeld on Sunday, July 9, at 10.07am.Taking a courageous leap from her large nest, she landed back safely on it a few minutes later.Then the second chick, known as PF5, spent a great deal of time squealing, flapping, helicoptering and jumping about from the nest to a perch and back again before flying off at 9.47am on Thursday, July 13.It marks the latest milestone moment for the Perthshire reserve which has welcomed ospreys back for decades.Perthshire Ranger, Sara Rasmussen, said: “This is a great time to come and view these majestic birds taking short flights around their nest and the loch where you can hear them shouting out for fish.“The youngsters will be fed constantly by their parents, to build up their energy and fat reserves before their long migration in late August.“Initially, they will spend time building up their strength, confidence and control with short flights around the nest.

After a week they may start to venture further, building up to flights that last a few hours.”Once the chicks have been flying for a few weeks it is usual for the female to depart first, leaving her mate to provide food for the young ospreys, until they too begin their first migration journey.By late August they will depart on their lengthy journey south, with the male also leaving around this time.Both parent birds, female NC0 and male LM12, returned to the nest earlier in the year on March 17 and, incredibly, within six hours of each other.Three eggs were laid in April with only two