Editing Loch Garten

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{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Loch Garten
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| location           = [[Cairngorms National Park]], [[Scottish Highlands]], [[Scotland]]
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[[File:LochGarten.jpg|thumb]]
'''Loch Garten''' ({{langx|gd|Loch a' Ghartain}}) is a large [[Scottish Highlands|Highland]] [[freshwater]] [[loch]] near [[Boat of Garten]], in the [[Strathspey, Scotland|Strathspey]] area of the [[Cairngorms National Park]], in [[Scotland]]. It is surrounded by the tall [[pine]] trees of the [[Abernethy Forest]], a large area (adjacent to the loch) of which is an [[RSPB]] nature reserve. The loch is renowned for its breeding population of [[osprey]]s, which lend Boat of Garten its nickname "The Osprey Village".

Careless behaviour towards the osprey in Britain throughout the 19th century meant that it became extinct as a breeding bird by the early 20th. However, in 1954 two [[Scandinavia]]n breeding birds came to Garten completely of their own accord and set up a nest in the forest by the loch. Slowly the species recolonised [[Scotland]] (for more information see [[ospreys in Britain]]), and the RSPB and other organisations helped them along the way (not an easy task due to the illegal activities of [[egg-collecting|egg collectors]] and other irresponsible people). The reserve was purchased by the charity and since then the nest has always been closely monitored. Recently a [[viewing hide]] was built relatively near to the nest so that visitors may come and see these birds of prey easily. The hide has [[telescope]]s and other optical devices inside, as well as television screens showing close-up views of the fledglings and their parents. Live video and still pictures of the nest can be viewed on the RSPB Loch Garten Reserve web-site.

Ospreys are not the only creatures to be found at Loch Garten. [[Western capercaillie]]s, though difficult to see, do inhabit the remoter parts of the reserve and can be seen performing their annual [[lek (mating arena)|lek]] via the [[spring (season)|spring]] "Caperwatch". [[Red squirrel]]s can be seen very easily around the hide, especially on the feeders put out for them. Smaller birds such as the [[Eurasian siskin]], [[common chaffinch]] (in very large numbers) and [[great spotted woodpecker]] are also present and easy to spot on the feeders. The [[crested tit]] and [[Scottish crossbill]] are more reserved in their behaviour and more difficult to find. [[Eurasian wigeon]] live by and swim on the loch.

==Loch Garten Osprey Centre==
[[File:RSPB Osprey Centre - geograph.org.uk - 11325.jpg|thumb|Entrance to the Osprey Centre]]
The Loch Garten Osprey Centre is a bird-watching facility on Loch Garten that focuses on the nest of two [[osprey]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title = RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Osprey Centre - Nethybridge - VisitScotland|url = http://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/rspb-scotland-loch-garten-osprey-centre-p253771|website = www.visitscotland.com|accessdate = 2015-10-21}}</ref> It is an [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB]] facility located in the Abernethy Forest. The Abernethy Forest RSPB reserve protects a habitat of [[Caledonian Forest|Caledonian pine forest]] and in turn forms part of the wider Abernethy [[National nature reserve (Scotland)|National Nature Reserve]].<ref name=nnr>{{cite web| url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10099| title=Abernethy NNR| publisher=NatureScot|accessdate=27 January 2021}}</ref>

The birds return to the nesting site every year and the numerous [[binoculars]] and [[telescope]]s within the centre allow for effective bird watching. Visitors can also see [[red squirrel]]s and other small birds feeding in front of the bird hide.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Loch Garten, Abernethy: Facilities|url = http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/l/lochgarten/facilities.aspx|website = The RSPB|accessdate = 2015-10-21}}</ref> A pair of ospreys have nested at the site every year from 1959 to 2019, although no chicks fledged there between 2016 and 2019. The tree which houses the nest died due to the droppings and remains of prey from the nesting birds, and in the winter of 2021 the nest (which was largely artificial) was relocated to a healthy Scots pine a few metres away. The tree canopy surrounding the nest was also lowered in an effort to make the nest site more appealing to ospreys.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Out with the old, in with the new - Loch Garten osprey diary - Loch Garten ospreys - The RSPB Community |url=https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/b/lochgartenospreys/posts/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=community.rspb.org.uk}}</ref> In 2022 a new pair of ospreys took over the new nest site and raised two young.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Delight as new osprey chicks ringed at RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre|url = https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/osprey-chicks-delight-at-loch-garten-281568//|work=The Northern Times|date=15 July 2022|accessdate = 10 September 2022}}</ref> Two chicks fledged in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=LOCH GARTEN - March 2024 - Loch Garten ospreys - Loch Garten ospreys - The RSPB Community |url=https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/f/loch-garten-ospreys/286665/loch-garten---march-2024 |website=community.rspb.org.uk |access-date=12 July 2024 |language=en |date=12 July 2024}}</ref>

The surrounding forest includes walking different paths passing by a large loch which is also known as Loch Mallachie.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Loch Garten and Garten woods|url = http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/loch-garten.shtml|website = Walkhighlands|accessdate = 2015-10-21}}</ref> Some of the trails link up with the [[Speyside Way|Speyside way]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Birdwatching in and around Boat of Garten — Boat of Garten - The Osprey Village in the Cairngorms National Park|url = http://www.boatofgarten.com/community/local-wildlife/bird-watching-in-and-around-boat-of-garten/|website = www.boatofgarten.com|accessdate = 2015-10-21}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Abernethy Forest]]
* [[Ospreys in Britain]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochgarten/ The RSPB: Loch Garten]

{{RSPB sites in Scotland}}

[[Category:Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves in Scotland]]
[[Category:Badenoch and Strathspey]]
[[Category:Birdwatching sites in Scotland]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Highland (council area)]]
[[Category:Freshwater lochs of Scotland|Garten]]
[[Category:Nature centres in Scotland]]
[[Category:Lochs of Highland (council area)|Garten]]