Bird Cams Around the World

FR3 has wasted no time since last week and I’m delighted to report has arrived safely in the Gambia.

In the space of five days our young osprey has crossed three deserts: the Western Sahara, Akchar and Trarza; passed through the whole of Mauritania and most of Senegal, to arrive on the northern bank of the Gambia river, close to the village of Jumansan Koto. As the osprey flies FR3 is now only a short distance of some 30km (20 miles) from sibling FR4!

On Friday, Noisette and her search team were successful in finding a satellite tracking device in their extended search of the woods where Breagha was last located and where feathers were found previously. We can confirm that this is Breagha’s tracker from the id number, 128061.

The tracker has sustained some damage (on the other side) which may be the result of animal activity. More feathers were also found and, from the GPS co-ordinates provided, these were around 20 m away from the tracker. The other remains are yet to be found. All this would indicate that some animal, possibly a fox, has scavenged the body and the chances of finding further large intact remains must be limited.

This brings to one end point the sad conclusion to the adventures of a beautiful 28 month old osprey which we hoped would be the first to return to Scotland. The final stage of the search will perhaps define more clearly why Breagha died. There has been speculation based on feather damage that he may have been shot and that could certainly be the case looking at one of Noisette’s photos which shows a small amount of primary feather barb damage and the fact that the fish farm area is a popular hunting area. Hopefully if the body is found it may throw more light on this likelihood. Noisette and her team are continuing to search the area. We are sure that she will post to the forum giving you all a much more detailed account of what she has done and discovered.

Noisette has done a fantastic job in her efforts to search the fish farm area to find evidence of Breagha’s demise. She has clearly shown the great value of her local knowledge and love of wildlife. RSPB would like to express their sincere thanks and look forward to hearing what she finds in her further visits to the area. If there is evidence that Breagha was indeed shot then that is a local French matter to pursue; it is also a matter in which RSPB would take great interest.

I’d also like to thank Mike for his work on Breagha’s tracker, and for liaising with Noisette.