Osprey Education
Statement about Osprey Education and Osprey Ambassadors
The Rutland Osprey Project began in 1996 with the aim of reintroducing this spectacular bird of prey to Rutland and to provide a base from which ospreys could spread across England. Education has always been an important aspect of the team’s work. For many years, the Rutland team have been able to run an osprey education provision for local schools, and for those children who became particularly involved in these session, they were given the opportunity to become an Osprey Ambassador. It has been a great privilege to see these children develop such a strong passion and understanding for the ospreys, and we feel very lucky to have been part of their story and development.
This work has been fully funded in the past, enabling us to employ staff to visit and host schools, and work closely with the Osprey Ambassadors. Sadly as this funding has come to an end we need to suspend this work and to take some time to evaluate our offer and to look at how we can best engage and connect children and families with nature and the fantastic Rutland Ospreys.
We will continue to offer online resources to both schools and families including a link to our live Osprey webcam. We hope you will understand the position we are in and do continue to support our work. We are looking forward to being out in nature with you again soon!
WildNet - Andrew Mason
Osprey Songs and Videos
We've pulled together our favourite songs and videos about ospreys, some of which have been sent in by schools that we work with, some by individuals, and some clips are taken straight from our webcam. They make a great starting point for teaching or learning resource.
Children's Books
The Rutland Osprey Project have created four wonderful children’s books all inspired by the Rutland Ospreys. All books are available to buy at the Lyndon Visitor Centre.
Ozzie's Migration, by Ken Davies
Tells the story of Ozzie on his first migration from Rutland to Africa. It is a difficult journey for a young osprey and you will find out in words and pictures what happens on his journey south. Based on real events this book is written by Ken Davies with colour illustrations by John Wright, Field Officer on the Rutland Osprey Project.
Ozzie's Return, by Ken Davies
Ozzie has now grown up in Africa and after two years is ready to make his first migration back to Rutland Water where he was “born”. Who will he meet and what will he see on his journey north? The story is once again based on real events and is written by Ken Davies and with colour illustrations by John Wright, Field Officer on the Rutland Osprey Project.
Ozzie Leads the Way, by Ken Davies
Four thousand kilometres apart, two groups of young people are united as they track and study an osprey migrating over the sea, mountains and desert. This novel by Ken Davies is based on the real life of an osprey. It describes how a group of children and their teacher see an osprey near Rutland Water, and follows the osprey’s adventures through Europe and to Africa where Ozzie experiences a new life and people in other cultures.
The beautiful colour illustrations and black and white drawings by Fiona Gomez add a pictorial dimension to Ken’s narrative about the people and places in this story.
Be an Osprey Expert, by Jackie and Pete Murray
Anyone can become an Osprey Expert. This children’s activity book explores every aspect of the life of an osprey in its 24 pages, including osprey facts, feeding, migration, how to study ospreys, plus games, drawing and quiz pages. The book is equally useful on a visit to the reserve when you come to see our real live ospreys (we use it with our visiting educational groups), or can be used at home using the power of the internet!
Complete the book and become a certificated Osprey Expert!
Be a Nature Reserve Expert
Become a nature expert with our new nature-themed activity book for children.
With 24 pages of nature-based activities, the compact A5 size is easy for children to handle. Each spread has a theme, with information, simple practical activities, and spaces to record what they see.
You don't need a nature reserve! All the activities can be done almost anywhere: a garden, a park, a school field, or any wild space will have what is needed for the activities to be completed by children of all ages.
£5.00 including postage and packaging.