An amazing osprey that bred in Wales for decades and helped restore its species here has disappeared

An osprey named Mrs. G, who played an incomparable role in restocking Britain with the magnificent birds of prey, has disappeared. In nearly two decades of returning to Snowdonia each spring, she has laid 52 eggs and sired at least 130 chicks.

The brown and white bird is believed to winter in West Africa, returning to the Glaslin nest near Porthmadog in the spring to breed. It was known for being one of the first ospreys to return each year, but it’s gone.

Until this year came for the last time on April 1st. In 2015, it returned on March 19th and was usually in the nest by March 26th. Her constant companion is a man named Aran, who keeps coming back looking for her. But April Monday arrived and for now he remains alone.

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“We haven’t given up hope,” said Heather Corfield, Glaslyn visitor center manager. “But every day he seems a little less optimistic.”

“A lot of people wonder where it is. Mrs. J is usually up early, she’s never been this late before. We always knew there would come a time when she wouldn’t come back, and maybe we’ve reached that time. It’s very sad and will upset a lot of people, but we have to be realistic.”

North Wales Live reported that Gee is believed to have first arrived at Glaslin as a three-year-old in April 2004, although she may have visited last summer. Since then, there has never been a lost spring in Wales.

Its reproduction was fruitful. Originally it only produced two or three eggs per season, but in recent years it has produced at least 60 eggs, 52 of which have now hatched. He is believed to be between 22 and 23 years old.

Many of her offspring survived. About 44 eggs managed to hatch over the next year, although some died a year later when their friend Aran, who provided food for the chicks, was injured. About 23 eggs, which produced 18 chicks, went to Aran, her second and likely last mate.

“She’s an amazing bird,” Heather said. “To think how long he’s been here and what he’s done for the osprey breeding program in the UK.”

Reasons for his late return include that he may have been sidetracked by storms during his 3,000-mile migration from West Africa, or he may have died. Possible causes include poisoning or entanglement in fishing nets, as happened to a young Welsh osprey in western Gambia a few years ago.

Like the Aran, it is not fenced or tracked, so until it nests, its whereabouts are often a mystery. Aran landed at 2:57 pm on Monday, April 3rd, and if Mrs. G doesn’t show up, she’s expected to mate with one of the Glaslin females.

Your nest photos are streamed online 24/7. Site manager Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife also streams live high-definition footage of nesting and feeding to the Pont Croesor Visitor Center.

“If he shows up, that would be great,” Heather said. “Otherwise, it would be nice to think you’re enjoying a well-deserved retirement in Africa, but unfortunately we know that rarely happens.”

Another pair of ospreys at Pont Cresor have already met this spring. A week ago, female Blue 014 joined her Z2/Aeron pair at a nesting site managed by Friends of the Ospreys.

• Glaslyn Ospreys near Prentagh, Porthmadog, open daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm until the birds migrate in September. Admission is free, but the charity Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, which runs the site, accepts donations.

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