Twelve Osprey chicks die in worst year for Kielder bird colony

Twelve osprey chicks have died in what is the worst loss for Northumberland’s breeding colony.

Bouts of bad weather, producing low temperatures and high winds suffered by the fish-eating eagles at Kielder are believed to have been a key factor in the blow to the colony, where breeding began in 2009. Three healthy youngsters on Nest 7 - the “nest with a view” across Kielder Water – have just been ringed, but this will be the only ringing this year.

So far there are seven surviving chicks at Kielder. This compares with the record year of 2021 when 16 youngsters fledged.