1 hour ago
1
Image source, Sion Emlyn Davies
Friends of the Ospreys hope the chicks will return to Wales later in life
Two osprey chicks have been born on Anglesey for the first time ever, according to conservationists.
The baby birds were hatched earlier this summer, and have since successfully left the nest, with hopes they may return.
Friends of the Ospreys, the conservation group who monitor the private site, said they were "over the moon" at the news, and hoped it pointed to a bright future for the species on the island.
The adult ospreys responsible for these chicks are one of about 300 breeding pairs in the UK, with about 20 in Wales.
Image source, Sion Emlyn Davies
The baby birds hatched at the nest on Anglesey earlier this summer
The adult male is from the Glaslyn nest near Porthmadog, and hatched in 2022.
His female partner is from a nest near Carrbridge in Scotland, and was born in 2024.
Darren Moore from Friends of the Ospreys said that her age was another reason why this news was historic.
"We're over the moon because she is the first ever two-year-old to successfully breed in Wales," he said.
"This is a huge milestone for the osprey population here, not only because the female is two years old, but also because she is part of the first ever breeding pair of ospreys to breed on the isle of Anglesey.
"Between them, they have managed to successfully raise two very healthy chicks in their first season together."
Image source, Sion Emlyn Davies
The breeding pair are one of an estimated nine in Wales
The majority of ospreys in the UK usually migrate to western Africa, over 3,000 miles (4,828km) away, before returning to the UK in the spring.
Moore said he hoped the chicks will return to Wales after they reach migration age.
"Both chicks have successfully fledged from the nest in the last few days," he said.
"They will spend the next few weeks building up their strength getting ready for their first migration south to West Africa, before hopefully returning to Wales in a couple of years to breed themselves.
"It's another feather in our cap which highlights the work we've been doing over the past few years."
Image source, Sion Emlyn Davies
The majority of ospreys in the UK usually migrate to western Africa, over 3,000 miles away
Moore, from Penrhyndeudraeth, has been part of the conservation group since 1999, and thinks this is one of the highlights.
"This is right up there at the top, we've had a breeding pair years ago, but this has really given us all a boost."
Sion Emlyn Davies, a naturalist and wildlife videographer, had been helping to keep an eye on the nest.
"The nest has been there for two years, but the female came back in April and we kept an eye out - but we weren't expecting chicks this soon considering the female's age," he said.
"Then we saw two heads poking up out of the nest - it was fantastic.
"I've grown up on the island, I've always wanted to work with wildlife, but having ospreys nesting on the island means a great deal to me, and having them in the skies around me is amazing."
