Ospreys on a live online nest camera in Lochaber have laid their first egg of the season.
It is the third year in a row that the first egg of this osprey pair has been laid on April 23, with the first egg appearing at 6.20am this morning.
Astonishingly the eggs have arrived on the same day since the live nest camera was set up in 2017, with the help from People’s Postcode Lottery.
It is hoped the osprey family will provide a beneficial dose of nature during coronavirus lockdown.
Woodland Trust Scotland Director Carol Evans said: “Many people who will never visit this special woodland helped to buy it four years ago by contributing to our fundraising appeal.
“The osprey camera was launched with them in mind. We wanted to offer a slice of wild forest life to people near and far. This year, with so many confined at home, this online experience becomes even more precious.”
Sanjay Singh, Senior Programme Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “We are delighted that support from our players helps bring this wildlife spectacle to homes across the country, and indeed the world.
“Contact with the natural world is so important, and while we are staying at home to keep ourselves and each other safe, it’s fantastic that people will be able to continue to see nature in action.”
In 2016 Woodland Trust Scotland bought the spectacular 2,500 acre site in partnership with local group Arkaig Community Forest. It contains areas of magnificent but degraded ancient Caledonian pinewood, which has been planted with non-native conifers.
A recently completed bridge and track upgrade will allow the extraction of huge quantities of non-native timber – freeing up Loch Arkaig’s ancient pine trees to recolonise the hillsides with their seedlings.
The restoration aims to demonstrate that conservation management can provide social and economic benefits for local communities.
