Migratory Osprey from Russia Saved by Fishermen on Lake Victoria

A migratory osprey from Russia was rescued in Siaya County after travelling more than 8,000 kilometres and becoming entangled in fishing nets on Lake Victoria.

Fishermen in Ugingo village, Yimbo, discovered the bird last Friday and carefully freed it before placing it under local care and contacting the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Officials later confirmed the bird’s Russian origin through an identification tag on its leg, part of an international tracking system used by scientists to study migration and conservation patterns. 

According to KWS, a team led by Deputy Warden Byatt Shikanga responded quickly to secure the bird and ensure it received proper care. 

“The exhausted feathered traveller from the Palaearctic region was carefully secured and put under expert supervision,” the agency said in a statement. 

The osprey was later transferred to the Raptor Centre at Soysambu Conservancy, where KWS veterinarian Dr Isaac Lekolool and raptor specialist Dr Simon Thomsett are overseeing its rehabilitation. Ospreys are among the most widespread birds of prey, found on every continent except Antarctica. 

They can be recognised by their brown upper feathers, white underparts, and distinctive dark eye stripe. Adapted for fishing, they have reversible outer toes and barbed footpads that allow them to grasp slippery prey, with fish making up almost all of their diet. Some ospreys migrate as far as 10,000 kilometres between their breeding and wintering grounds.

The bird’s arrival in Siaya highlights East Africa’s role as an important stopover for migratory species from the Palaearctic region. While North American ospreys spend the winter in Central and South America, Eurasian populations often migrate to Africa and Asia. Migration usually occurs in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). 

The Russian tag found in Siaya will provide valuable information for researchers studying these long-distance movements. This is not the first time ospreys have been recorded in Siaya. In 2020, two birds from Finland were found in the county, though one later died from dehydration despite KWS intervention. 

Such incidents show both the endurance and vulnerability of migratory birds, which rely on safe routes and suitable habitats along their journeys. KWS commended the local fishermen for promptly reporting the incident, which allowed the osprey to receive expert attention. The agency has urged the public to report any injured or distressed wildlife through its toll-free or WhatsApp lines, or at the nearest KWS office.