East of England's 'first osprey chicks in 250 years' hatch
"It also gives visitors the chance to catch a glimpse of these impressive birds of prey and their young," she added.This is the third consecutive year Ranworth Broad has hosted a pair of ospreys. Sightings of feeding and mating behaviour by the pair were reported by staff, which raised hopes this might be the year they would breed, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust said.Ospreys typically lay two or three eggs, and the chicks will stay with their parents until they are ready to migrate in September, spending their winters in West Africa or Portugal. Ms Leeder said: "It's so wonderful to welcome our new arrivals and it also gives visitors the chance to catch a glimpse of these impressive birds of prey and their young."Staff have set up a telescope and wildlife camera in the visitor centre to give people good views of the osprey nest.
The trust said there had been no recorded breeding osprey in the East of England for more than 250 years.They became extinct as a breeding bird in Britain in the 1900s but a pair returned to Scotland in 1955. The trust's Broads south reserve manager Adam Houlgate said: "We are delighted to be the first site to welcome breeding osprey back to the East and are celebrating this significant moment for wildlife conservation in Norfolk."It's a fantastic feeling to know that we are taking care of a special landscape that makes a home for incredible birds like this."
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