Glaslyn Osprey Project

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The Glaslyn Osprey Project is located in the Glaslyn Valley at Pont Croesor near Porthmadog in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The project has supported ospreys since 2004 when they came to the Snowdonia National Park to breed after being absent from Wales for at least decades. The project was initially run by RSPB Cymru, but in 2012 the charity announced that it was loking to withdraw in order to prioritise other challenges facing Welsh wildlife.[1] In September 2013, the Project will be handed over to a Community Interest Company called Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife.

The ospreys spend every winter in West Africa and travel thousands of miles to return to Glaslyn every year to breed and raise their chicks.


History and background

Since their disappearance in 1916 from Great Britain, the first pair of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) breeding in Wales were found in 2004 near Porthmadog.[2]

In 2004, due to bad weather and rot in the upper branches of the tree, the nest collapsed. Before the next season in 2005, a platform was constructed with help from local school children. In 2005 the Osprey pair returned, took up residence on the specially made platform, and raised the first known Welsh brood. The nest is being monitored via nestcam online here. [3]

The pair have returned every year and by season 6 in 2009 had raised a total of 12 osprey fledglings since their known arrival in 2004.

The RSPB Date with Nature site at Pont Croesor aims to introduce people to the wildlife in the area, inform the public on conservation projects done by the RSPB and ensures 24 hour protection of the eggs in the nest.[4]

The three fledglings of 2009 were named Glaslyn, Glesni and Glaslyn by children from the local Ysgol Rhosgadfan School.

Thanks to a ringing scheme of the chicks the progress of these birds has been recorded. A chick ringed in 2006 was discovered in Scotland in 2009 and had raised its own family.

Pont Croesor Station

In 2010 the Pont Croesor railway station of the Welsh Highland Railway was built near the site.

See also

References

  1. ↑ RSPB Cymru to pull out of Glaslyn Osprey project and help other species
  2. ↑ RSPB Glaslyn ospreys
  3. ↑ BBC Wales
  4. ↑ Glaslyn osprey project

External links

Coordinates: 52°57′02″N 4°05′49″W / 52.95058°N 4.09684°W / 52.95058; -4.09684

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