25th February
Ozwold is settled in the same area of Mauritania as before, in the reserve of the Banc d'Arguin. He has been making regular flights in and around the area, presumably to and from good feeding and roosting areas.
It is likely that he will spend 2012 in Africa and return to more northern climes in the spring of 2013.
The adult ospreys will soon be returning to their summer breeding sites and we can expect them in our skies once again. There has already been a rumoured sighting of an osprey in Norfolk.
To Gill,
ReplyDeleteWhy do ospreys like Oswold spend a whole year in Africa?
From Lara
Hi Lara
ReplyDeleteThe underlying mechanisms and triggers of migration are still not fully understood. However, what we do know is that Ozwold is a juvenile. He is one of last year's chicks and will not be ready to breed this year. Breeding ospreys return to Northern climes to make the most of the increased day length (up to 18 or 19 hours in the height of summer) to fish and rear their young. There are probably fewer predators of eggs and young ospreys too. For Ozwold to return this year would be hazardous and a waste of energy if he is not mature enough to breed. The external or internal triggers that kick start the instinct of migration are still unknown. Research shows that Ozwold will probably return in 2013, and although he may not be successful in establishing a mate and nest, he will certainly be on the look out for suitable nest-sites for future years.
It will be interesting to see when his migrational instinct kicks in and will be amazing to follow his journey back north.