The 200th osprey chick has been born at a nature reserve project to reintroduce the bird of prey back to England.
The programme at Rutland Water started in 1996 – more than 150 years after ospreys became extinct in England and Wales.
Th 200th chick – a female – was born last month.
She will be ringed with the number 360 and will remain in Rutland until early September.
The bird will then join others in a 3,000-mile migration journey to the west coast of Africa.
The young birds are expected to return to England in 2023.
Abi Mustard, of The Leicestershire & Rutland Trust, said:
“This year is an important and exciting year for the Rutland Osprey Project – we’re thrilled to be celebrating our 25th anniversary and also welcoming the 200th chick.
“It’s brilliant that we now have a self-sustaining population of ospreys in England.
“The success of the Rutland Osprey Project is not only due to the resilience of the birds themselves, but also to the hard work, support and dedication of everyone who has been involved – we have a wonderful team of volunteers, staff, local landowners and supporters who have helped facilitate these incredible achievements.
“We are all looking forward to seeing what the next 25 years brings.”
Rob Stoneman, director of landscape recovery for The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“Seeing 200 chicks successfully hatch at the Rutland Osprey Project is a fantastic achievement.
“These beautiful birds belong in our skies, and it’s thanks to the hard work of so many people over the last 25 years that we now have osprey across England and Wales.
“Success stories like this prove what’s possible and help us to visualize how our countryside could look in the future – with wildlife in abundance, a rich tapestry of habitats, green corridors for species to move through landscapes, rivers and lakes free from pollution, and access to nature for all.”
