A pair of fish-loving ospreys have bred in Ireland for the first time in almost two centuries on the island of Ireland.
Two and “possibly three” chicks have been confirmed in the nest of the pair at an undisclosed location in Co Fermanagh, according to Ulster Wildlife.
Giles Knight, Ulster Wildlife environmental farming scheme advisor, had been aware of the breeding pair and observed them while undertaking farm visits in the area during the last three seasons.
The osprey, with its distinctive white head and rangy aspect, frequents coastlines and waterways in sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Scotland, northern Europe and North America, living off a diet of live fish.
Native ospreys, which gave their name to places such as Osprey rock on Kerry’s Lough Léin, have not bred in Ireland for over 150 years.
As in Scotland, they were hunted to extinction. Recolonisation began over a half century ago in Scotland, where there are believed to be around 250 to 300 breeding pairs.
A breeding programme with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, involving international experts in Norway and Britain, was announced here several months ago by Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan. The first 12 chicks from Norway were due to arrive here in July.
Visiting ospreys have been spotted on migration, such as a bird spotted flying over the lakes of Killarney in early May of this year.
“I have been keeping this news close to my chest for a long time to ensure the safety and welfare of these spectacular but vulnerable birds,” Mr Knight said.
“Along with my son Eoin, I have watched the adults return to the same site since 2021, so you can imagine my excitement the moment that I saw three chicks and two adults this year. It was a rub- your-eyes, once-in-a-lifetime moment; an absolute highlight of my 30-year wildlife career – like finding long-lost treasure,” he said.
“With at least two of the chicks fledging this season, this is a huge conservation success story and indicates a healthy wetland ecosystem with plenty of suitable habitat and fish to bring this apex predator back to our skies and plunging into the Fermanagh Lakelands,” he said.
“Now these birds are back in Ireland and breeding successfully, it is critical that they are left in peace so their numbers can continue to grow by returning year on year to breed. We believe and hope that this could be the start of a raptor dynasty,” he added.
Dr Marc Ruddock of the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group described it as “truly brilliant news”.
