RSPB plans to rebuild destroyed osprey nest in Cairngorms
One of the strath's most des res's is to be rebuilt after its destruction in the winter gales.
But it's a race against time, while the owners are away...
The sad news was revealed earlier this week that one of the strath's most productive eyries had been utterly destroyed recently.
"The nest at Loch Insh has blown down," said Catherine Vis-Christie, community engagement officer at the RSPB's Insh Marshes reserve. "A bit sad, as the nest has quite some history.
"It's not that old when compared with Loch Garten, but it's raised a fair few chicks over the years and been a sight for many a passer-by."
Indeed, crowds gather at the site every spring and follow events through until the fledging and September departure at a nest which has been known to produce up to three new ospreys each year.
Ms Vis-Christie said: "We hadn't realised it was down until Peter MacKay phoned to say he was showing a visitor of his around and went to show them the nest and it was gone."
Said Mr MacKay, of Dunachton Road, Kincraig:"I recall that another local nest went down several years ago just a little way downstream. That, too, was repaired by the society and, rather amusingly, when the birds returned they saw their nest had gone and that a new one, on the other side of the river had been built for them – so they raided the new one for material to rebuild their old one!"
Ms Vis-Christie told the Strathy the work at the Loch Insh nest would be done mostly RSPB folk: "Some staff from Abernethy will be doing the bulk of the work as they have the expertise and tree climbers.
"Our residential volunteers and interns will gather the nesting material but due to the site and safety we have concluded it's not really suitable to get lots of folk in on the action, as much as we would like to.
"The plan is to reconstruct in early March."
