The Tweed Valley Osprey Project aims to protect nesting ospreys and encourage them to settle and breed in suitable locations in the area. By doing so, we hope to improve people’s knowledge, understanding and appreciation of these spectacular birds.

During the breading season you can get closer to these magnificent birds at the osprey watch centre. You can follow the adventures of our Osprey families on the Tweed Valley Osprey Project Facebook Page, and find stories from previous years below.

Tweed Valley Osprey Project Facebook Page

The story so far...

Although ospreys first returned to Scotland to breed in 1954, it was over 40 years later that the first birds were seen summering in the Scottish Borders. Even then, it took a helping hand from Forestry Commission rangers, together with the local Police Wildlife Liaison Officer and the RSPB to encourage our first pair to settle and breed here.

In the late 1990s, a number of artificial nest platforms were erected in safe locations within the Tweed Valley Forest Park in the hope ospreys returning on migration would find the area an attractive place to breed. Osprey conservation has always been a secretive business, yet the Tweed Valley Osprey Project wanted to allow people to share in their success story without compromising the safety of the birds from egg collectors.

The solution was to place a camera at the nest and provide live footage of the birds as they raised their family. In partnership with Friends of Kailzie Wildlife, Forestry Commission Scotland developed the osprey watch centres at Kailzie and Glentress. Cameras were set up on an artificial nesting platform, and the first images of the nest were beamed back in April 2004. Forestry and Land Scotland is delighted to be able to continue this work.

Visit our osprey watch centre

During nesting season, from May to September, you can see the birds on a live camera feed at the Glentress Wildlife Hub, where our avid group of osprey volunteers are on hand to tell you all about the birds.

Wild Watch Centre at Glentress

Read the blog

Find the latest osprey action from the Tweed Valley on the Facebook page.