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Pet parrot begins mimicking ospreys
“We have had the website on so much Sailor has started to mimic the pleading cry Aila makes."
Habit picked up after watching online footage of osprey nest

A pet parrot has begun to mimic the call of an osprey after her owners started watching online footage of a nest in the Scottish Highlands.

Sailor, a 24-year-old African grey parrot, lives in Yorkshire with her owners Stuart and Sue Brannen, who became hooked on live footage of a pair of ospreys, Aila and Louis.

The nest is at Loch Arkaig Forest in Lochaber, which was recently purchased by the Woodland Trust Scotland, in partnership with Arkaig Community Forest. The nest camera is solar powered and will capture live footage throughout the summer.

Retired merchant seaman Stuart Brannen, 70, said: “We have had the website on so much Sailor has started to mimic the pleading cry Aila makes when she wants Louis to feed her. It is remarkable! If you are in the other room you can’t tell if it is the osprey or the parrot making the noise.”

George Anderson of Woodland Trust Scotland added: “It seems our nest cam has brought a real call of the wild into people’s homes. Aside from Sailor we have heard there is a budgie somewhere which also thinks it’s an osprey now!”

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.