A pair of ospreys central to Dorset’s reintroduction project have returned to the county for the fifth consecutive year.
Female CJ7 and male 022 – the first breeding pair on the south coast of England in around
180 years – have completed their migration from West Africa and are now back at their nesting site at Careys Secret Garden, near Wareham. The birds are part of a long-running programme led by Birds of Poole Harbour and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. Since first pairing up, CJ7 and 022 have successfully raised chicks in each of the past two seasons, helping to establish a small but growing population in southern England.
Their return is closely watched each year, with both birds tracked via webcams and public engagement events. CJ7 arrived on the evening of 25th March, with 022 following early the next morning.
Ospreys were once widespread across the UK but were driven to extinction in England by the mid-19th century due to persecution. Their gradual return has been the result of decades of conservation work, including targeted reintroduction projects.
Sam Ryde, Deputy Manager at Birds of Poole Harbour, said the pair’s return is an important step in rebuilding the south coast population, with hopes that numbers will continue to grow and link with other breeding groups.
The birds are expected to begin rebuilding their nest in the coming weeks, with the potential for another breeding season ahead: watch the story unfold live from the Birds of Poole Harbour webcams.
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