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Flights, Camera, Action!
THE first osprey chicks of the season have hatched at Loch Arkaig in the Scottish Highlands - and thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery their adventures are being watched around the world once again.
Players' support helped Woodland Trust Scotland set up nest cams at the pine forest and this year's newest stars have made their debut on screen, much to the delight of wildlife fans.
The ospreys have become an Internet sensation since the cameras were first installed in 2017, offering a bird's-eye view of their escapades.
They gained a global audience during the pandemic - when the father of the new chicks, Louis, became a fans' favourite, clocking up an audience of 400,000 worldwide with his previous partner Aila. Now Louis and his current mate Dorcha, who have been together since 2021, have made the nest their home, and viewers have been flocking to watch their progress.
George Anderson, Woodland Trust Scotland, said, "The magic of this wildlife soap opera continues, and we cannot wait to see what the summer brings here at Loch Arkaig. The nest cams give a very intimate encounter with nature, and it has been so lovely to share their adventures.
"We love being able to show this wild slice of woodland life with people all over the world via the internet - and we are so grateful for the support of Postcode Lottery players to help make it happen."
The next chapter in the season should see the chicks flying in the coming weeks and crossing continents by the end of the summer.
The nest cams at Loch Arkaig are on a woodland site bought by Woodland Trust Scotland and Arkaig Community Forest in 2016. Together, they are working to remove huge amounts of non-native timber to let the native pines repopulate the site and revive the ancient forest.
A unique barge has been used to transport logs across the loch over the winter, with the help of logging horse Tarzan - pairing up the newest form of timber transport and the oldest.
One of the most significant areas of remaining Caledonian pine forest, this is the largest ancient woodland restoration undertaken by the Woodland Trust on land directly under its care.
Players of People's Postcode Lottery have raised more than £25 Million to support the Woodland Trust and its conservation and environmental work.
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Published: 24/06/2024
