Glaslyn Osprey Project facts for kids

The Glaslyn Osprey Project is a special place in the Glaslyn Valley near Porthmadog in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. Since 2004, this project has helped ospreys, which are amazing fishing birds. Ospreys had been gone from Wales for many years. Now, they come back every spring to the Snowdonia National Park to build nests and raise their chicks. These birds fly thousands of miles from West Africa to get here!

The project first started with the RSPB Cymru. They wanted to show people the local wildlife and teach them about protecting nature. They also made sure the osprey eggs were safe 24 hours a day. In 2013, a new group called Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife took over. This new group, a Community Interest Company, has kept the project going strong ever since.

Osprey Return: A Welsh Success Story

Ospreys disappeared from Great Britain in 1916. But they started coming back! They returned to Scotland in the 1950s. Later, they also came back to England and Wales. The very first pair of ospreys to breed in Wales was found in 2004. They chose a spot near Porthmadog.

Building a Safe Nest for Ospreys

In 2004, the ospreys' nest fell down. This happened because of bad weather and rot in the tree branches. To help the birds, a special platform was built before the next breeding season in 2005. Local school children even helped with this! In 2005, the osprey pair returned. They used the new platform and successfully raised their first known Welsh brood (group of chicks).

Watching the Ospreys: Live from the Nest

The osprey nest is watched very closely. A webcam allows people to see the birds and their chicks live. This helps everyone learn about these amazing birds. It also helps protect them.

Tracking Osprey Chicks: Their Life Cycle

Every year since 2004, the osprey chicks that hatch have been "ringed." This means a small, light ring is placed on their leg. This ring helps identify them later. Many of these ringed ospreys have been seen returning to the UK in later years. Some have even had their own chicks!

The original male and female ospreys returned every year. They bred successfully until 2015. That year, the male bird did not come back from Africa in the spring. But a new male osprey arrived! He successfully paired with the female. They raised chicks together in 2015 and 2016.