Macdonald Resorts supports Osprey exhibition
Macdonald Resorts is backing a new exhibition at RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Osprey Centre to celebrate the 60th birthday of the world-famous Operation Osprey project.
After years of persecution, ospreys became extinct in the UK in the 20th century. Then, in 1954, a pair nested near the shores of Loch Garten and the hopes of nature conservationists and bird enthusiasts were ignited, but after three years of frustration, when the birds failed to breed, it was suspected that egg collectors had raided the nest for the precious eggs.
In 1958, George Waterston, then director of RSPB Scotland, set up 24-hour surveillance of the nest near Loch Garten. This became known as ‘Operation Osprey’, but efforts were initially thwarted when one misty night in May, a daring egg-thief once again raided the nest of its three osprey eggs, replacing them with hen eggs. Despite the nest-watchers giving chase, the culprit was never found.
1959 saw a renewed determination in the Operation Osprey set-up and thanks to another 24-hour nest watch, the Loch Garten ospreys successfully hatched three chicks.
It was then that Waterston persuaded his colleagues that opening up the nest to public viewing, rather than keeping it secret, would be the best way to ensure the future survival of breeding ospreys in the UK. In this way, public awareness and support would grow and the ospreys would benefit from greater protection.
Ever since, RSPB Scotland has been working, with the help of volunteers, to protect these birds and all the other amazing wildlife that calls the area home. From just one breeding pair at Loch Garten in the 1950s, there are now around 250 breeding pairs across the UK.
Jess Tomes, visitor operations and site manager, said: “The story of the Loch Garten ospreys is ultimately a story of triumph over adversity and one which shows how determination and resilience can win the day in the end.
“The heroes of the 1950s Operation Osprey had these qualities in spades and today, people all over the country can see ospreys, thanks to their passion and commitment. It really is an uplifting, conservation success story.”
The exhibition, which Macdonald Resorts – an RCI affiliate – helped to fund, is displayed in an old-style caravan to commemorate the original 1950s ‘osprey camp’, where volunteers and staff stayed in tents and dined in a caravan.
Exhibits include photographs, original documents, and reproduction artefacts, including the barbed wire used to protect the 1959 nest tree, and a fake osprey egg – a reproduction of the chicken egg daubed in boot polish from the 1958 nest raid.
To find out more, visit the RSPB website.
