BEL was sitting in her favourite tree preening. Two of the young were dozing in the warm afternoon sun, the third and largest was standing with wings outstretched, feeling the breeze beneath them. BEL saw a small group of people approaching. BEL became alert but not unduly worried. With the summer weather more and more people were out and about. As the minutes ticked by they came closer. It was clear they were coming to the nest. BEL barked an alarm and the exercising youngster immediately lay still in the nest. BEL took off and began circling, calling in alarm. Ozzie arrived and joined her.
The five people arrived at the base of the nest tree, a team of scientists studying Ospreys. They had come to fit rings on the young birds. A climber began the ascent. When he got to the nest he let down a rope. The young Ospreys lay flat in the nest, motionless.
Ever since Ospreys re-colonised Scotland scientists have been fitting identification rings to every chick they can. Over 1200 have been ringed. People finding the ringed birds have reported them and this has enabled the scientists to locate the migration routes and wintering grounds, and identify the hazards that Ospreys face.