Russian Osprey: Surprise as Migratory Bird from Russia Found Stuck in Fishing Net in Siaya

Residents of Ugingo village in Yimbo, Siaya County, were surprised on Friday, November 7, when a Russian Osprey, a long-distance migratory bird, was found trapped in a fishing net. 

The bird had traveled over 8,000 kilometres from its home in Russia.

A group of local fishermen discovered the bird while heading to Lake Victoria for a fishing trip. 

They carefully freed it from the net and took it to a nearby resident’s home for safety. Later, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was called to take the bird into care.

KWS confirmed the bird’s Russian origin after noticing a special identification tag on its left leg. 

These tags are placed by researchers to track bird migration and gather important data for conservation.

“Immediately after being called, the KWS Siaya team, led by Deputy County Warden Byatt Shikanga, acted to secure the bird. It was tired and needed expert care,” said KWS. 

The bird was later moved to the Raptor Centre at Soysambu Conservancy for medical check-up and rehabilitation under the guidance of Dr. Isaac Lekolool and raptor expert Dr. Simon Thomsett.

Ospreys are large birds of prey that mainly eat fish. They have a white underbelly, brown upper parts, and a dark stripe across the eyes, giving them a masked look. Their feet have special pads and reversible toes to grip slippery fish.

These birds live near rivers, lakes, coasts, and wetlands. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. 

Some Ospreys migrate up to 10,000 kilometres every year, traveling between breeding and wintering grounds. 

Eurasian Ospreys, like the one rescued in Siaya, breed in northern Europe and Asia before moving south for the winter.

Ospreys mainly eat fish such as mullet, perch, and carp. They are highly skilled hunters and usually dive into water to catch their food. 

Migration happens twice a year, in spring (March–May) and fall (September–November). Tracking them with tags helps scientists understand their global journeys.

KWS encouraged the public to report any sick or injured wild animals immediately through its toll-free numbers or the nearest KWS station.

This is not the first Osprey spotted in Siaya. In 2020, two birds from Finland were rescued there, though one later died from dehydration despite KWS’s efforts.