After an absence of almost 200 years, ospreys returned to breed in Northumberland in 2009. Since then, Kielder Forest has become an important home for these remarkable birds, with 150 chicks successfully fledging.
Watching an osprey hunt over Kielder Water is a memorable sight. With wings swept back, it dives towards the water before reaching beneath the surface with its talons to catch a fish.
Once known as the ‘fish hawk’, the osprey is a skilled hunter that attracts wildlife watchers to Kielder. But they have not always been such a welcome sight, and their return journey has taken a long while.
From extinction to recovery
Ospreys migrate to Britain to breed in spring, travelling from wintering grounds in Africa. They often return to the same nesting areas, and males in particular have a strong instinct to return to the area where they were born.
Ospreys were once widespread here, but persecution and egg collecting caused their numbers to collapse. By the mid-19th century, they had disappeared as a breeding bird from England, and later disappeared from Scotland too.
Then, in 1954, Scandinavian ospreys naturally recolonised Scotland. Within 50 years, there were almost 160 breeding pairs.
As the population grew, these magnificent birds of prey were increasingly seen passing through Kielder on their journey north. Home to England’s largest forest and northern Europe’s largest man-made lake, Kielder offered ospreys suitable habitat and plentiful opportunities for fishing.
Encouraging ospreys to return to Kielder
Ospreys tend to build their nests in prominent trees in quiet locations. To encourage passing birds to settle at Kielder, we installed several nesting platforms around the forest.
And in 2009, after an absence of almost 200 years, ospreys finally returned to breed in Northumberland.
The population has gradually become established since then. By 2018, Kielder was home to five breeding pairs. In 2020, we built another nesting pole, where a young adult pair successfully raised two chicks.
150 osprey chicks and counting
Kielder’s growing osprey population has brought a series of important milestones.
- In 2021, 16 young ospreys fledged from seven nests. It was also the first time in at least 200 years that chicks were born to fathers that had themselves hatched at Kielder.
- In 2022, Kielder’s 100th osprey chick fledged. The chick was named Fourlaws after a nearby forest in Ridsdale, east of Kielder.
- In 2026, the 150th chick fledged since breeding began. This milestone chick was a male aptly named Kielder, who fledged from nest 12.
For the volunteers who have spent years following the birds, each new generation is another step in the recovery of ospreys in England.
Following Kielder’s young ospreys
Before they fledge their nests, our young ospreys are fitted with identification rings. These allow individual birds to be recognised and provide valuable information about their movements and whether they return to breed.
After developing their flying and fishing skills around Kielder, the young birds take to the skies for their first migration where they can travel over 5,000km to warmer climates.
As the population has grown, ospreys have been seen at other locations across the UK, while Kielder-born birds have also returned to Northumberland to raise chicks of their own.
Protecting the future of Kielder’s ospreys
Successful breeding is supported by conservation work throughout the year. Our teams maintain nest platforms, monitor the birds and help to protect breeding sites. Livestream cameras also provide a rare view into some of the nests, helping people follow pairs as they prepare nests, lay eggs and raise their chicks.
This long-term work is helping ospreys become established again after their historic disappearance as a breeding bird from England.
The Kielder Osprey Project is a partnership between Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Forestry England, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water and Calvert Kielder.
