Bird boom: Osprey chicks thrive at Manton Bay

Credit: Rutland Ospreys/Leicestershire Wildlife and Rutland Trust

The popular Rutland Water nature reserve is closed to visitors but is booming with Ospreys.

The new arrivals have been nesting at Manton Bay and are being carefully watched by their parents Maya and 33. Staff have been documenting their growth via a live webcam feed.

The Bird of Prey had been extinct in England for 150 years but now down to a project spanning more than two decades at Rutland Water, they're thriving again.

Between 1996 and 2001, 64 six-week-old Scottish Ospreys were released at the reservoir and the project saw the first birds return to breed there in 2001.

Meanwhile, Birdfair 2020 has announced that this year’s event has been cancelled.

Organisers say they do not feel they could maintain their duty of care during the Coronavirus crisis, and delaying the decision further would only "increase costs" which would be difficult for them to bear.

However, event bosses say they are exploring the possibility of holding a ‘Digital Birdfair’, which will be a chance to showcase speakers and continue discussions online.

  • Watch the latest footage of the four Osprey chicks at Manton Bay.