Viewers see osprey fight for life

Attendants and the public watched via CCTV as the single osprey chick in the Galloway nest fought to free itself from the black plastic on its back

CCTV cameras have captured an osprey chick's fight for life after getting tangled in a piece of plastic.

The incident occurred on Friday as the young bird was in its nest in Galloway in south west Scotland.

Images of the site are relayed back to the Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre where attendants and the public watched the events unfold.

Wildlife attendant Stephen Ross said the incident highlighted how "careless actions" could affect the birds.

The danger was first discovered on Friday morning when the caretaker opened the visitor centre.

We were really worried the chick was going to strangle itself as it struggled to stand up Stephen Ross Wildlife attendant

A monitor displaying images of the only chick in the Galloway nest showed it had a plastic bag on top of it.

Mr Ross said: "Our chick was wrapped in the plastic like a sleeping bag, then it had one piece wrapped round its leg and another round its neck.

"We were really worried the chick was going to strangle itself as it struggled to stand up.

"Our visitors were all extremely worried - there was a great sigh of relief when the chick finally freed itself."

Dumfries and Galloway Council has appealed to the public to be aware of the dangers that litter can cause.

"The latest incident at a Dumfries and Galloway osprey nest shows how discarded plastic can be a threat to wildlife," said a statement.