OSPREY RETURNS TO PORTUGAL

The osprey, Pandion haliaetus, commonly known as 'Guincho', stopped reproducing in Portugal in 1997, following the death of the last reproductive female. The male of this couple was last seen in 2002.

But just a couple of weeks ago, CIBIO-InBIO/EDP Biodiversity Chair researchers identified a reproductive osprey couple in the Southwestern coast of Portugal. In addition, two adult males were observed inland, in Southeastern Portugal, at the country's largest dam 'Alqueva'. The latter individuals had been released in previous years in the context of the Portuguese osprey reintroduction project, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO and fully supported by EDP.

These exciting results come about as the outcome of a collaborative investment to recover the species in the Mediterranean region, involving Italy, Spain and Portugal. So far, in our country, 40 animals have been reintroduced since 2011. And it is indeed very positive and encouraging to observe ospreys returning to the same location where the species had reproduced for the last time in Portugal, and to see the return of individuals to the area where they were reintroduced, only four years after the beginning of the reintroduction project.

Dr. Luís Palma, the project coordinator, is very excited with these findings: 'This is what the project was designed for' but also stresses the 'great responsibility we have with the return of these animals'. He adds that 'it is critical to put forth solid management strategies in the coastal region, seeking to conciliate human presence with avifauna recovery and conservation. Careful spatial planning is essential to allow the reconstitution of a new reproductive population of osprey along the various protected coastal areas'.

These reports have received great media attention, with the news published in major national newspapers such as Expresso, Público and Diário de Notícias.

To know more about this topic, please follow the links:

Águia-pesqueira regressa a Portugal depois de 13 anos de ausência | Expresso | May 1, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

Águia-pesqueira está de regresso à Costa Vicentina | DN | May 2, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

Águias-pesqueiras voltam a fazer ninho em Portugal | Wilder | May 2, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

Duas décadas depois, a águia pesqueira está de volta à costa alentejana | Público | May 4, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

Liberdade para voar | TSF | May 14, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

To read the official press release for this report, please click here.