The 2021 Osprey Project report has been published in the March 2022 edition of the journal Nos Oiseaux. While only in French, this report outlines the highlights of last year. Now that the release phase of the project has finished, two birds reintroduced each year between 2016 and 2019 are so far known to have returned: 4 males in Switzerland, and 1 male plus 3 females in neighbouring countries. Two of these females bred successfully in 2021: Mouche in France (Moselle – with 2 fledged chicks) and Plume in Germany (Bavaria – with 3 fledged chicks). Two males (Taurus, for the third year, and Arthur, for the second) held territories in Switzerland, with Taurus forming a couple late in the summer with a German female ringed AB13. In addition, a “mystery male” summered in the Haut-Doubs not far from the French-Swiss border (see photo above). Although he only has a metal ring on its left leg, we think it is one of “ours” that has lost his blue plastic ring, but his identity is still uncertain. Finally, two youngsters released at Bellechasse in 2019, Radar and Rafale, returned to Europe for the first time in 2021. The article can be downloaded here.

Three “Osprey mornings” were held in 2021, mobilising over 70 volunteers. Two more are being planned this year, on 29 May and 19 June. If you are interested in participating, please let us know the date(s) when you are available and possible preferences for observation sites. Everyone inscribed will be contacted ten days before each date for the allocation of an observation point (to be determined based on the number of volunteers who have signed up). Many thanks in advance for your participation!