2009 is the Golden, 50th Anniversary of osprey viewing at Loch Garten.
It was back in 1959, on 12th June, after the eggs had hatched, that George Waterston, the then Director of RSPB in Scotland, took the very brave, but above all, visionary decision to go-public with the Loch Garten ospreys. Such was the already developing curiosity and interest in the ospreys' return, with people clamouring to see them, that the first osprey viewing initiative in UK was begun. In that first season, over 14,000 people visited the site in just three months.
What proved to be a winning formula with the viewing public back then in 1959, is still a winning formula today. It began as an innovative model of sustainable wildlife interpretation, the first of its kind, and is now renowned and emulated the world over. Fifty years on, it still attracts visitors in the thousands, 35,000+ each year between April and end of August and since it all began, collectively over two million people have visited the Loch Garten Osprey Centre.
Of course, it wasn't a "Centre" then, as the picture shows; the very first viewing facility was just an old caravan, but hey, who cared? The ospreys were what people had come to see. In the years since, there has been immeasurable change in some ways, to the very fabric of the facilities for example, but in other ways there hasn't.
We are still doing today, what we started doing 50 years ago, only we'd like to think better and using modern technology with which to do it. Basically, continuing to bring people close to these spectacular and special birds, enthusing and inspiring people to take an interest in them, other wildlife and the environment. For many, a visit to the Osprey Centre, often acts as a springboard for what then becomes thereafter, an interest, a passion and a life-long interest in ospreys, birds and other wildlife.
Anyway, we plan to mark the passing of this milestone, on Saturday 13 June 2009 and we would be delighted if you would visit us. It will be free-entry to the Osprey Centre that day and we hope that as many people as possible will join us to share this milestone year. Hatching is due this coming weekend and so by mid-June the osprey chicks will be well grown and large enough to be readily seen on the nest, so it is a good time to visit. Our guest of Honour will be Frank Hamilton, former Director of RSPB Scotland.
In commemoration of this Golden Anniversary, we plan to attach a gold fish, (that's a fish made of "gold", not a goldfish!) to the Osprey Centre sign here at Loch Garten. Join us if you can, but in particular, we are looking for someone to unveil (attach, actually) the golden fish to our sign - and that could be you! We would like you to tell us, in no more than 50 words (appropriately), What the Loch Garten osprey story means to you.
Send your entries to; LochGartenOspreystory@rspb.org.uk The closing date/time for receipt of entries is Monday 1st June at 5pm.
What are considered to be the best three will be chosen - those that capture our imagination most. Of these, one outright winner will be chosen and will be contacted by e-mail and invited to join us on 13th June. If that person cannot do so, then we will then contact the person in second place. The winner will be notified by e-mail by Friday 5th June. The winner will win a Deluxe Room, Dinner Bed and Breakfast, for 2 people at The Boat Hotel, www.boathotel.co.uk in nearby Boat of Garten, for one night, Saturday 13th June. All travel costs to be at the winner's own expense.
We hope that a selection of entries will form part of a temporary display in the Osprey Centre. Please refer to our website for the terms and conditions http://www.rspb.org.uk/help/terms.asp
We look forward to receiving your entries and hopefully, seeing you on the day. We hope osprey enthusiasts, past, present and future will come along, to see EJ, Odin and Family, to meet the team and join us in celebrating this amazing milestone. We look forward to meeting you.
Just a reminder: - Osprey tagging 2009 - How you can help.
For a further year, we would like to continue to build on the knowledge gained about osprey migration, by fitting tags to two of the Loch Garten osprey chicks in 2009. EJ and Odin currently have three eggs which we are hopeful will hatch in two weeks time. All being well, and assuming successful hatching, later this summer, we hope to be able to tag two chicks, the largest two, if we get a brood of three.
So far, Odin is proving to be a very able and competent male osprey and an excellent provider of fish for EJ and hopefully, for her brood to come - something last year's male, VS, father of Deshar and Nethy, was not!
We are hopeful therefore, that the young ospreys will grow big and strong during the summer and set off in the best of condition and fully resourced for their testing first migration, in a way that last year's young were possibly not. In order to do so, we need to raise £4,500 for tagging and the initial on-going data download costs, which is where you can help us.
If you have been fascinated by following the fortunes of tagged ospreys and would like to help us do it all again and to continue to build on the knowledge gained so far, you can make a donation online. Many thanks.
I am obliged to say that, if we are fortunate enough to raise over the amount required for the continuation of this project, then we will allocate that money to other osprey and general conservation work here at Abernethy/Loch Garten.
For those of you who feel able to contribute to this project, many thanks in advance for your help. It is much appreciated.
Thanks. -- Richard