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Region's 'first osprey chicks in 250 years' hatch

Katy Prickett
BBC News, Norfolk
Lynne Warner An osprey in mid air with its wings outstretched against a blue sky at Ranworth. It is holding a headless fish in its talens. It has a white body and head, yellow eye and its under wings are dark brown tipped and speckled brown on white. Lynne Warner
Sightings of feeding and mating behaviour by the pair were reported by staff within a few days of the birds' arrival in April

Osprey chicks have hatched in the East of England for the first time in more than 250 years, according to a wildlife trust.

The fish-eating birds of prey arrived at Ranworth Broad nature reserve near Wroxham in April and the first sighting of their chicks was on Friday.

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust described it as a "significant moment for wildlife conservation" in the county.

Senior visitor centre manager Teala Leeder said: "Getting my first glimpse of the chicks and confirming our greatest hope was just incredible."

Lynne Warner Osprey sitting in tree against a hazy blue sky. It has a white chest and neck, a yellow eye, and its brown wings are folded over its body. Lynne Warner
The trust built a platform to encourage the birds to nest in 2022, but the pair chose to use a nest they began building last year

"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.

Jimmy King A back view of a man and a girl in Ranworth's visitor centre. The man is wearing a blue shirt and is pointing to something seen through the window. The girl has long mid-brown hair and appears to be holding up binoculars. Through the window in front of her is a broad lake, edged by trees. Jimmy King
Ranworth is within the heart of the Norfolk Broads, Britain's largest protected wetland

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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