The Poole Harbour Osprey Project

Restoring a breeding population of Ospreys to the South Coast through an exciting translocation project

Birds of Poole Harbour are partnered with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to deliver the Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project, aiming to restore a breeding population of these charismatic birds of prey to the South Coast. The project, which started in 2017, involves the translocation of 60 juvenile Ospreys from Scottish nests into the Poole Harbour area. This process aims to create a bond between the young Ospreys and their new local area, before they leave on their first treacherous migration, usually to West Africa. This bond draws the Ospreys back to Poole Harbour on their return to the UK, after at least 2 years maturing in their wintering grounds, when they will identifying suitable nesting sites. The translocation therefore lays the foundations for their return as a breeding bird to the South Coast, 180 years on from their local extinction.

Follow the story through our Osprey news below, on Twitter @harbourbirds and on Facebook @BirdsofPooleHarbour and through our livestream webcams!

History of Ospreys in the UK

The Poole Osprey translocation project

Carey Osprey Webcams

23/07/2024

2024 Osprey Chicks Fledge!

As of Monday afternoon the fourth Osprey chick, 5H6, took his first ...
02/07/2024

2024 Osprey Season: The Chicks are Ringed!

The calm weather meant that the Birds of Poole Harbour team could ...
16/05/2024

First wild-fledged Osprey in 180 years returns to Dorset!

The first Osprey born in Poole Harbour since the species was lost ...
29/04/2024

Osprey Pair Produce Four Eggs in Dorset for First Time

Delight in Dorset as the county’s only pair of Ospreys have ...
11/04/2024

Carey Osprey Tours are Back for 2024!

With our nesting pair of Ospreys, CJ7 and 022, back at Careys Secret ...
28/03/2024

CJ7 and 022 Return!

We're delighted that both 022 and CJ7 have returned safely from their wintering ...
08/08/2023

2023 Pop-Up Osprey Watches

With Osprey activity already building across the harbour as more birds stopover ...
11/05/2023

The Carey Ospreys

Sharing the Next Chapter in the Story

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