At 14.02 yesterday two adult males approached the osprey nest from the railway track, jumped over the fence and walked towards the osprey nest until they were almost underneath. There they stopped and started to photograph the area and the nest. They had ruck sacs and ordinance survey maps and the one with the black coat even waved at one of the nest cameras at 14.22 - all caught on various surveillance equipment including the video cameras and microphones. Both ospreys were off the nest and eggs from 14.02 until 14.35 - over half an hour. No eggs were taken by humans but all three could have been taken by a host of avian predators. It is now too late to re-lay and that would have been the end of the osprey season for the Dyfi birds and maybe for ever.Both these individuals walked back towards Dyfi Junction along an active rail track where they were apprehended by Dyfed - Powys Police who were notified immediately as soon as we identified the disturbance. I hope you don't mind me posting this on here.. it is now a Police matter and I have blurred out the faces of these individuals.
I would like to pass on my immense thanks and gratitude to the MWT staff and volunteers at the Dyfi Osprey Project yesterday afternoon who acted promptly, professionally and to procedure. I would also like to thank Dyfed-Powys Police for their remarkable response time and effectiveness in dealing with this serious wildlife crime.
Whats the matter with these people, I just hope that the police make a search of their homes etc.
ReplyDeleteThis afternoon I made a very pleasing discovery on visit to a local bird site, I was going to let others know about it on the blog, but not now!
Can't really say what I think on here - and certainly can't use the language I feel this merits
ReplyDeleteQuite a remarkable incident isn't it? The fact that they unlawfully trespassed on the railway line is bad enough and then waving at the CCTV camera (Iv'e seen the footage) what a 'plonker'! I spent last night watching over the female on the nest and she seemed unperturbed by the incident.
ReplyDeleteDon't attempt to do this on my shift guys or you are likely to feel an old copper's boot up your backside!
I guess with the media coverage there was always a possibility this could happen and the staff at the project need a medal, I would not have been so calm and can only hope these people get what they deserve
ReplyDeleteOne can only hope for the best. Surely just fools lured by the publicity? What a great job the volunteers are doing especially the night shift.
ReplyDeleteHi this is Mel i am 9 years old and very passionate about wildlife.I'm furious that someone could do this and could knowingly disturb the osprey.The osprey is a magnificent bird and there are very few left,I can't wait for the eggs to hatch.Me mum and dad come to powys every year,We are good friends with gareth morgan the mid wales badger man and we are moving up so i would love to do volunteer work for the osprey.
ReplyDeleteWell Mel if you are that interested then get yourself down there and inspire some young people your age. School holidays approacheth!
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