How old was Mrs G?
She was unringed so we don’t know when she was hatched.
Where was she hatched
She was unringed so we don’t know where she was hatched.
Why was she called Mrs G?
As she was unringed, she was given the name Mrs G which stood for Mrs Glaslyn
Where did Mrs G migrate to?
We don’t know. Most UK ospreys migrate to West Africa – Senegal, Gambia, a smaller number migrate to Iberia -Spain, Portugal.
Assuming she migrated to West Africa each year, travelling around 3000 miles each way, she would have notched up approximately 117,000 miles on migration during those years. That is the equivalent of travelling 4.5 times around the world!
Do the birds migrate together?
Ospreys make their migratory journeys alone to reach their wintering grounds many thousands of miles away. After spending the winter apart, they are re-united with the same mate when they return to the nest each Spring.
How many chicks did she have?
Up until 2022, 44 of her chicks had successfully fledged
How many partners did she have?
Two. Her first was a Scottish born ringed bird, Ochre 11(98) who was translocated to Rutland. He started breeding with Mrs G in 2004 but failed to return in 2015. Aran became her new partner that year and by 2022 they had successfully raised 18 chicks together.
How old is Aran?
Aran is unringed but thought to be around ten years old.
Why is he called Aran?
When he first arrived in the Glaslyn Valley, he often flew in the direction of Yr Aran a nearby mountain in Eryri (Snowdonia)
Where does he migrate to?
We don’t know. Most UK ospreys migrate to West Africa – Senegal, Gambia, a smaller number migrate to Iberia -Spain, Portugal.
Do the chicks return to the Glaslyn Valley?
Seven of Mrs G’s chicks and five of her grand chicks have been known to breed in the UK, but not in the Glaslyn Valley. Chicks have bred in the Kielder Forest, Scotland, the Lake District and in Yorkshire.
What do ospreys eat?
The osprey is a fish-eating bird of prey and Glaslyn ospreys fish at the Cob in Porthmadog, the Dwyryd Estuary and mountain lakes.
What fish do they catch?
Brown trout, flounder, mullet, rainbow trout, sea trout and garfish.
Is the Glaslyn nest man made?
Mrs G and her first partner 11(98) built the nest in 2003/4. In 2004, the nest was blown down in a storm killing their first two chicks. That winter the nest was rebuilt and strengthened by volunteers and it is maintained every year before the birds return in the Spring.
How far is the nest from the Visitor Centre?
About a mile and a quarter as the osprey flies
How high is the nest tree?
It’s 80 feet and is a sliver fir tree
How many osprey nests are there in the Glaslyn Valley?
Four, including the Glaslyn nest, each with its own breeding pair. The Pont Croesor nest is near the Visitor Centre and its pair, Dyfi hatched Z2/Aeron/ (2017) and Poole Harbour hatched Blue 014 (2018) have been successfully breeding there since 2021.
The third nest is at an undisclosed location in the Valley where another Dyfi bird KS6/Dinas (2018) and Poole Harbour female Blue 019 (2019) bred for the first time in 2022. The fourth nest, at another undisclosed location, is where another Dyfi bird Z1/Tegid (2016) breeds with an unringed female.
How many osprey nests are there in Wales?
There are now nine known osprey nests in Wales. Four in the Glaslyn Valley, one at Cors Dyfi near Machynlleth, two at Llyn Clywedog, near Llanidloes, one at Llyn Brenig and another on private land in Eryri (Snowdonia).