Ask osprey expert Roy Dennis a question
Roy Dennis © Emyr Evans/MWT
If you've been enjoying following the three chicks from Dyfi in mid-Wales on their first epic migration to West Africa you'll be pleased to know that he's one of our guests on tonight's show. And he's ready to answer your questions. If there's anything you'd like to know about ospreys, Roy's your man, so post your question below.
Watch Roy's final two osprey films on Autumnwatch, 8.30pm Friday 18 November, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two.
Comment number 1.
At 18th Nov 2011, Tom wrote:Do different populations of osprey winter in different areas? Is there connectivity between breeding locations and wintering locations? Do British birds winter in different areas than Scandinavian birds for example?
Tom from Wales living near the Glaslyn ospreys
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Nov 2011, RyanMottram wrote:Hi
How many Osprey's are there left in the wild?, and also what is the return routes that the adult Osprey's will use during the spring migration?
Ryan From Middlewich Cheshire
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Nov 2011, kath1951 wrote:Hi Bill. We used to have hundreds of birds in our garden but now there are only a few. As it is November this seems unusual as they are all usually back by now. Hope you can help. Thanks Kathryn Smith from Holmfirth
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Nov 2011, dave culley wrote:Hi roy
is the ospey the only bird of prey to have a reversible outer toe for carrying its prey,also is there more man made nests sites than natural ones .Regards Dave
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Comment number 5.
At 18th Nov 2011, ivor fee wrote:Hi Roy,Bill or Chris.
Are many migrating birds affected by the growing number of wind turbines that blot our landscape?
Thanks,
Ivor.
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Comment number 6.
At 18th Nov 2011, JacMun wrote:dear autunm watch
i live is aberdeenshire in northeast scotland and at my local river there is a single whooper swan who has been there for 3 days. he never moves far from the spot that he is in and is constantly calling. There have never been swans at our river before. Is he lost and what can we do to help?
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Comment number 7.
At 18th Nov 2011, Steve wrote:How rare was the osprey sighting at RSPB Sandy a week ago?
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Comment number 8.
At 18th Nov 2011, Alejandro El Grande wrote:This may be a stupid question but if there are so many fish for the ospreys to catch in that lake in Senegal why do they even bother to migrate 3000 miles back to the UK?!
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Comment number 9.
At 18th Nov 2011, colinwatmough wrote:If it's so nice down in west africa, why do the ospreys bother to come back here?
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Nov 2011, Cosper wosper wrote:Roy, When osprey are feeding in saltwater lagoons, do they need to find fresh water to drink or can they get enough from the fish flesh, like some other animals can, for example dolphins.
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Comment number 11.
At 18th Nov 2011, Grandmookster wrote:Hi, why do ospreys migrate to northern Europe to breed in the summer? Why not stay in Africa where there is plenty of food which looks easier for them?
Loving this series!
Thanks
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Comment number 12.
At 18th Nov 2011, dwf121 wrote:Hi Roy, I was a volunteer at Operation Osprey, Loch Garten, almost 40 years ago. I went for day walk with you and a group of others when I saw my first Golden Eagle - something I still vividly can remember. You had an amazing ability to se things others didn't. What tips can you give people to see other wonderful birds? Best regards, David
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Comment number 13.
At 18th Nov 2011, sueannekelly wrote:Please Roy, if the living is so good in Africa for the ospreys, why do they bother to
migrate such huge distances? I suppose this question applies to other birds too!
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Comment number 14.
At 18th Nov 2011, 0spreyfreak wrote:To Mr Osprey Himslf#
can yo please tell me where you got the smoked prawns and red wine when yuo had a chat with Ewan MciLwraith sincere thanks in anticiation
Aberfoyle
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Comment number 15.
At 18th Nov 2011, mal wrote:We often over-winter in Goa and often see Osprey there. Where do these birds come from? Are they from India, or would they migrate from further afield?
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Comment number 16.
At 18th Nov 2011, bob Arn wrote:What sort of gull was the one getting food from the osprey
was it a slender billed gull
from ellie and hetty arnfield age 13 and 9
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Comment number 17.
At 18th Nov 2011, trubblespike wrote:I am a huge fan of Roy's, and in awe of the Osprey project, parallelling the Cuckoo project this year.
But my question to Roy is: WHY WHY WHY can you not pronounce Einon's name correctly?
It is not Ennion it is EYNON (phonetically)
If you persist, you will lose Welsh fans!!
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Comment number 18.
At 18th Nov 2011, David T wrote:If there is such excellent food supply in West Africa, why do ospreys bother to migrate to UK ?
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Comment number 19.
At 18th Nov 2011, tom hughes wrote:Hi Guys,
we live in Highland Perthshire & have been looking after Osprey nest sites while eggs wait to hatch and have just watched the brilliant film of our birds in AFRICA.
We are just wondering why the birds bother to make the 1000's of miles return journey back to struggle through a typical British summer, especially in the Scottish Highlands........Is it purely native, wild instinct...????
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Comment number 20.
At 18th Nov 2011, Mandy wrote:What I don't understand is if the fish is so easy for the ospreys to catch in the lake in Senegal why do they come back to the UK and not just stay where they are?
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Comment number 21.
At 18th Nov 2011, MorrisMinorAndy wrote:Roy,
If the Ospreys have such an easy supply of food in Africa, why do they breed in the UK?
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Comment number 22.
At 18th Nov 2011, trubblespike wrote:On further examination I find the name is Einion, so the pronunciation is EYNION not ENION
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Comment number 23.
At 18th Nov 2011, Carole Lee wrote:When the young ospreys migrated to Africa, how did they know where to go? Did they follow their parents?
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Comment number 24.
At 18th Nov 2011, Bridget Farham wrote:Hi Roy - wonderful programme in Senagal - you may remember me as Bridget Furness - did my PhD at Aberdeen decades ago - now in Cape Town - See me on Facebook as Bridget Farham
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Comment number 25.
At 18th Nov 2011, RichJ wrote:I spent 2 years working in the Naval Operations Base (Jazirat Umm Al Ghanam), Sultanate of Oman, in the Straits of Hormuz from 1987-89 and we had a resident osprey(s) that used to live and fish in the harbour for some months of the year (can't remember what season).
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Comment number 26.
At 18th Nov 2011, Dafydd wrote:Compared to it's own body weight how big a fish can an Osprey catch and fly with.
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Comment number 27.
At 18th Nov 2011, catzeyezuk wrote:Hello. I saw a large (over 20 inches tall) bird of prey sitting on a sign near a drainage dyke near my house. On the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk earlier this week. After watching the programme, I've realised it looks most like an Osprey. Is this possible in this location? We do get Buzzards in the area but I'm sure it wasn't - it was very white patched round the face and then again further down the body.
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Comment number 28.
At 19th Nov 2011, paulinewarman wrote:If food is so plentiful in West Africa, why do the Ospreys winter in the UK?
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Comment number 29.
At 23rd Nov 2011, catzeyezuk wrote:When will Roy answer the questions?
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Comment number 30.
At 12th Feb 2012, FishNwaz wrote:Hello to Everyone across the Big Pond!
Im in Florida, USA and am looking for an answer to some odd osprey behavior. I have a pair of breeding ospreys on a tall platform nest I built 3 years ago. Past years suggest the eggs are getting close to hatching. One of the ospreys will continually attack pelicans that happen to land in the water within sight of the nest (up to 500 meters away!). Why would ospreys be so mean-spirited to pelicans? They don't impress me as being a threat to the nest nor do they eat the same food resource (pelicans look for minnows/ ospreys eat much larger fish). As a marine biologist, I understand underwater critter behaviors, but above water Im baffled by this! Answers and speculations welcome!! Thanks everyone. Bob
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Comment number 31.
At 14th Jun 2012, Carol1411 wrote:If the first egg of 3 hatches on May 27, and it's now June 14, is it safe to say the other 2 won't hatch? Thank you.
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