Osprey Chicks Balloch Forest
Photograph is courtesy of David Sutherland, Aberchirder, who is a Wildlife Ranger in Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District based at Huntly.
The constructed nest in the Balloch Forest hosted osprey parents and successful broods of chicks for a number of years. These three chicks were weighted and ringed after which they were returned to their nest.
It may be just an impression but there seems to have been a decline in ospreys nesting in the Deveron valley area. Perhaps the fall in the numbers of salmon and trout in the river are one reason. The local specially stocked fishing lochs continue to attract and feed the birds however and may have increased visitor numbers to the facilities there.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Northeast Scotland