Sunday, 2 May 2021

Osprey nest at Llyn Brenig vandalised and destroyed

Early this morning, I returned home on a high from the joy of a dawn chorus visit to the area around St. Nicholas Church (see here) to this ....

BBC News - Llyn Brenig Ospreys: CCTV shows moment vandal takes chainsaw to nest

There are no words sufficient to describe this appalling and mindless act of eco-vandalism which make me feel sad and angry in equal measure. What motivates these idiots to wilfully destroy nature?

The Osprey is still an extremely rare breeding bird in Wales in spite of relatively recent re-colonisation. The nesting site at Llyn Brenig in the Denbigh Moors in north Wales is one of just five publicised breeding locations in Wales and a single moment of destruction has reduced the breeding population by 20% overnight. It is understood that the pair of Ospreys were already incubating eggs.

I have visited this location on only one occasion and I failed to see the Ospreys but I have seen the breeding pairs at the Dyfi Osprey Project in mid Wales and at Glaslyn in north Wales on several of my annual visits to Wales (except last year for obvious reasons).

Hopefully, the Police investigation will result in the people responsible being caught, prosecuted and receiving the highest penalties possible under our current (inadequate) wildlife legislation.

In the meantime, anyone who values our wildlife expresses complete solidarity with the wonderful people at North Wales Wildlife Trust in the light of this tragic event. They do brilliant work and we urge them to understand that they have great support behind them and to carry on with their work with Ospreys in Wales. 

This was the first item for discussion on the Self-Isolating Bird Club show this morning with Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin. Like me, and doubtless many other people, they had enjoyed International Dawn Chorus Day before having to come to terms with the terrible news from Llyn Brenig. They were joined by Iolo Williams, fellow TV presenter and well known naturalist and campaigner for Welsh wildlife.

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature


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