The first of four young ospreys from Dorset’s reintroduction program has successfully taken flight.
Female CJ7 and male 022 laid four eggs in April for the third consecutive year at their nesting site near Wareham.
These magnificent birds returned to the area thanks to a conservation initiative led by the charity Birds of Poole Harbour.
On Tuesday at 16:00 BST, the female chick 6T6, hatched in late May, became the first to fledge, marking a significant milestone for the project.
The chicks fledged on July 1st and are all presumed to be female ospreys, adding to the growing population of these incredible birds.
Conservationists scaled a tree reaching 30 meters (100 feet) high to access the nest and weigh the chicks, ensuring their well-being and monitoring their growth.
After their first flight, young ospreys typically return to their nests three to four times daily for feeding over the course of a month, according to Paul Morton, founder of Birds of Poole Harbour.
These fledglings generally migrate to West Africa between August and September, where they will stay for several years before returning to Dorset to breed.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk