Coming Soon: Guided Tours to view Careys Ospreys
The Reintroduction
Since 2017, Birds of Poole Harbour and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation have been working hard to re-establish a South Coast breeding population of Osprey; a majestic bird that really captures people’s imagination. Since the story began, an ever-growing community of people from near and far have followed the project and offered their support, sharing our excitement through its twists and turns.
The Return
For many people this connection began in 2020 when Birds of Poole Harbour launched the live stream nest camera and CJ7 found her way into people’s hearts, providing a much-needed distraction for thousands of us during the early months of the pandemic. Our hopes grew the following year, with the return of our translocated male 022 and the strong pair bond we watched him form with CJ7.
And of course, 2022 delivered the outcome we had been waiting for, when the pair made history by raising two chicks and became the first breeding Ospreys in Southern England in nearly 200 years! Having both safely returned in the spring for the past few years now, we’re in the exciting position to be able to continue sharing this story with you, by hosting a series of guided viewing experiences at the site here at Careys where the pair have taken up residence.
Guided Osprey Tours
The viewing of the nest at Careys is very carefully managed by Birds of Poole Harbour to avoid any risk of disturbance, with only small groups permitted at any one time, so please make sure to book one of the tours in advance if you would like to visit and share this experience with us.
Osprey are a Schedule 1 species, meaning they have the highest level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the species near to, at, or on an active nest, providing a legal base for any disturbance issues the pair may face. Like last year, the nest will still be protected each day, with our dedicated team monitoring the nest and surrounding area, and additional protection provided by security units at key locations. We’re also working closely with the National Wildlife Crime Unit to ensure there is no disturbance or trespassing risks to this private site.