Expectations have risen for the return of osprey nesting in Ireland after a hiatus of around two centuries, owing to a reintegration initiative instigated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. News of a total of nine osprey releases this year comes on the heels of reports that corncrake territories have reached a milestone of 233, a record in a quarter of a century, due to a distinct project by the same service.
Ospreys, who primarily consume fish, are believed to have disappeared as a breeding species in Ireland more than 200 years ago. Ospreys, albeit in small numbers, continue to include Ireland in their migration route. Now in its second year, the NPWS is planning to transport fifty chicks over a span of five years with the goal of building a sustainable breeding population.
In order to gather insights into their migration habits and contribute to broader conservation endeavours, the reintroduced birds are equipped with satellite tags. Ospreys inhabiting Northwest Europe, including Ireland, predominantly migrate to Africa during the winter.
Evidence collected from the satellite tracking of the previous year’s birds confirmed this migration pattern. One bird, referred to as 63E, embarked on a 2,500-kilometre journey from Southeast Ireland on September 16th and reached Africa within five days. The bird’s journey involved crossing the sea to Portugal, and subsequently moving onto Morocco at speeds reaching up to 32km per hour at times.
Nature Minister Malcolm Noonan, who released the ospreys in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, expressed that such reintegration programmes are now a vital element of our comprehensive approach to the biodiversity predicament.