“Osprey Nest Drama in Dordrecht: Bird Protection Netherlands Pulls the Plug on Wild Camera Soap Opera”

Over the past few weeks, residents of Dordrecht have been watching the osprey nest in the Biesbosch with excitement via Experience the Spring. The wild cameras managed to capture a real soap opera, but after two and a half weeks, the Vogelbescherming pulls the plug.

Stilted

It is much too quiet on the nest of the bird of prey. In previous years, the whole of Dordrecht could enjoy the young family that was brooding on the nest. “But this year it looks like the osprey won’t find a female,” says forest ranger Harm Blom.

The osprey is less and less often seen on or around the nest. “It has been quiet on the nest for the last week and that is not fun to watch,” says the forester. The Bird Protection Netherlands has therefore decided to pull the plug on the soap.

National survey of white-tailed eagles

Other birds of prey in the Biesbosch, on the other hand, were very busy. Three young white-tailed eagles were ringed last week and examined by Werkgroep Zeearend Nederland. “By means of the rings, we can see what the situation is with the distribution of the white-tailed eagles in the Netherlands,” explains Blom.

Not only the routine and distribution of the birds of prey is mapped out in this way, the dangers become more visible. Think of windmills, high-voltage pylons and bird flu.

bird flu

It is the first time that sea eagles have been tested live for avian flu. “We suspect that sea eagles can die from eating infected birds. The more infected prey they eat, the sicker they can become,” says the ranger.

Previously, young white-tailed eagles were found dead carrying the virus. Waterfowl throughout the Netherlands are currently affected by the virus.