Wildlife enthusiasts in Wales are mourning after Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced a heartbreaking development at a well-known osprey nest. The nest at Llyn Clywedog in the Hafren Forest near Llanidloes has been home to ospreys since 2014, when NRW constructed a platform in a Sitka spruce tree. Over the past 12 years, 22 chicks have successfully fledged from this site.
Livestream Tragedy
In 2020, NRW installed livestream cameras at the nest, allowing supporters to observe the osprey pair, Seren and Dylan, on YouTube. The 2026 stream began in late March, but the perch camera was turned off this weekend after a tragic event. Ospreys form lifelong bonds and can raise up to three chicks at a time, so observers were thrilled when the Clywedog pair had a full nest by mid-May.
However, on Friday, June 5, NRW posted a devastating update on Facebook: the three two-week-old chicks had died from hypothermia. The post stated: "We’re very sad to share that three two-week-old osprey chicks from the NRW conservation nest at Clywedog have died from hypothermia. During cold, heavy rain on Wednesday night, the female left the nest, leaving the chicks exposed. The male continued to return to feed and protect them, but without the female he was unable to brood them. Following expert advice, our team briefly turned off the live camera and removed the chicks."
Community Reaction
Commenters expressed their sadness and condolences. One wrote: "The whole team do amazing work - and nature can be unforgiving." Another added: "I am very sorry to read this & for the poor parents. The climate is more unpredictable than ever. People rarely think of what it must be like living out in the elements that change in a moment & back again but I do, caring for many wild birds & understand how precarious life/survival is."
Thankfully, the female returned safe and well on Thursday night. Both adult birds remain at the nest and are likely to prepare for migration earlier than usual. NRW noted: "We know how much these birds mean to so many people, and we share your sadness. Nature can be both beautiful and harsh." The Clywedog female typically migrates to the Tanji Marsh in Gambia, West Africa.
