The project will allow the attraction's massive on-line following to keep up with the chicks year-round when they leave the nest near Boat of Garten and set off on their 3,000-mile migration to West Africa in late summer.

A new website has been set up to allow bird lovers to see just where the ospreys are, and this will build on the blog and the live nestcam which have made the Loch Garten ospreys the world's most watched birds.

RSPB Abernethy Reserve warden Ross Watson said the innovations had proved hugely popular, with the nestcam alone receiving a "phenomenal" 200,000 unique visitors this year.

He commented: "This technology builds on the blog and the live nestcam in inspiring the huge online community which avidly follow the Loch Garten ospreys, in addition to the thousands of visitors who come and see them in the flesh every summer.

"For the first time, we'll have an accurate idea of where these birds winter and how long it takes them to get there.

"As well as teaching us more about their behaviour, we hope to link up with people and schools along the migration route, to share information and enhance protection for these magnificent birds throughout the year."

The two chicks were successfully fitted with the tags on Saturday morning and now the time when the chicks leave the nest in mid-July is awaited even more eagerly than in previous years.

Mr Watson continued: "The tagging itself went very well, and the two chicks are looking really healthy. We expect them to fledge in mid-July, and then they'll spend about a month learning to fly and feed around Strathspey.

"Eventually, towards the end of August, they'll head south, bound for West Africa, although this time we'll be able to keep an eye on them all the way."

Roy Dennis, Ross Watson and Clive Hill from RSPB check and install a tracking system on the first osprey chick down from the nest.

The two chicks, ringed AY and AZ, have been named as Nethy (AY) and Deshar (AZ) after the two closest primary schools to the reserve, and pupils there will be following the birds on their migration.

An RSPB spokesman said: "It's been a successful year for the Loch Garten nest, especially after last year's disappointing season when no chicks survived.

"This year, three chicks were born to parents EJ (female) and VS, but unfortunately, the third one proved to be just too weak to survive.

"However, the two older chicks are very healthy, and this year has to be regarded as a success in the illustrious history of the Loch Garten nest."

Once widespread, ospreys became extinct in Scotland in 1916. A pair nested at Loch Garten in 1954, and since 1959 ospreys have arrived every year – raising more than 80 young.

Over two million people have visited RSPB Scotland's Loch Garten Osprey Centre over a period of 45 years, including almost 32,000 last year. The facility is open daily from 10am-6pm until the end of August.

musgrove_g@spp-group.com

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