To save Europe’s raptors, conservationists say, look to West Africa

In 2020, a juvenile osprey perished in Ghana, one of many raptors killed annually in the region. The bird had been previously fitted with a leg ring by the British Trust for Ornithology in Scotland. Ospreys had been locally extinct in Scotland since the early 1900s, but reintroduction efforts began in the 1990s. Tim Mackrill, an osprey expert and director of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, emphasized the need for a comprehensive conservation strategy that considers the entire migratory route of these birds.

"Failing to account for the entire flyway of migratory routes, connectivity, and wintering sites means conservation efforts for these species are woefully inadequate," Mackrill stated. Raptors, such as ospreys, exhibit strong fidelity to their wintering grounds, returning to the same trees year after year, whether in Ghana, Guinea, or Gambia.

Millions of birds embark on the journey from Europe to West Africa during the coldest months of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite significant efforts to restore and protect raptors in Europe, these dedicated individuals continue to face threats in their African wintering habitats.