Poole Harbour: Osprey chick dies after attack by Goshawk
It was one half of a pair of ospreys to hatch in Poole recently - a first in the UK in 200 years
Last updated 10th Aug 2022
An osprey chick who had been one the first in the UK to hatch in 200 years, has sadly died after being attacked by another bird of prey.
The osprey chicks hatched in June, in Poole Harbour, as part of a reintroduction project run by Dorset-based charity Birds of Poole Harbour.
The project, which runs since 2017, aims to bring the bird back to southern England after it was persecuted into extinction in Britain during the 1800s.
Sadly, one of the chicks - named '5H2' - has now passed away after sustaining injuries during a predation attempt made by a Goshawk on Friday (5 August).
Despite best efforts by vets it could not be saved, and passed away the next Monday.
A spokesperson for the charity said:
"After sustaining injuries during a predation attempt made by a juvenile Goshawk on Friday evening, 5H2 was located by the Birds of Poole Harbour team and taken for emergency care at a local veterinary centre. She was then transferred to a specialist vet on Saturday morning where she received antibiotics and treatment to prevent infection in her injuries.
"Despite given the best care possible, she died this morning due to those injuries, which in truth, was always the more likely outcome, but her resilience and strength over her final few days made us believe that there was at least some hope."
Speaking to Wave 105, Brittany Maxted, from Birds of Poole Harbour, explained that usually they wouldn't intervene:
"Ordinarily in a situation like that we wouldn't intervene. But it's such a special group of birds, the only family of ospreys in southern England, and the first since 1847. They are the first stepping stone in what we're hoping will become a population of ospreys, not just here but across the south coast.
"Every individual (bird) is important, so that's why we did what we did to try and help that bird. Sadly, it wasn't to be."
A spokesperson for the charity said while it's an unfortunate outcome, it's the result of a common challenge faced by wild birds, and that the charity holds no animosity towards the predatory bird, which has been persecuted as well:
"These are just the realities and challenges wild birds face, including large birds such as Osprey. Since the predation attempt there have been no further signs of the Goshawk, so we assume it’s moved on. But it’s important to remember that the Goshawk, a magnificent species in its own right, was only doing what it knows best, which is to be the most efficient hunter it can be.
"We hold no animosity towards this young Goshawk, and just see the incident as unfortunate. Goshawk have been heavily persecuted over many years and are trying to make their own recovery which seems to now be coinciding with the return of the Osprey. And while we can’t rule out any future predation attempts again, the fact that Osprey, Goshawk, White-tailed Eagles, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite are now all visible again over Poole Harbour sky’s shows that times are changing and attitudes towards all raptors are improving."
While it's a "knock back for the season", the team at Birds of Poole Harbour are confident that the surviving chick will join the Osprey migration soon, as Brittany Maxted told us:
"We still have one really health chick here and if, all being well, that chick leaves on migration in a few weeks time, that will be a really wonderful success story for this year."
Giving an update on their website, the charity thanked those who've supported the project so far and wished '5H2' a restful sleep:
"Thanks to everyone for their messages of support for the project, this is indeed a knock back for the season. However, when you place webcams on wild birds nest there will inevitably be scenes of nature that play out in their fullest that may shock or disturb.
"Massive thanks to ‘Vets Now’ in Wimborne for 5H2’s initial care on Friday evening and ‘Anton Vets’ in Andover who cared for 5H2 over the weekend.
"Thanks everyone for your support and sweet dreams ‘5H2’ x"