Ospreys have successfully returned to Dorset, England, after being absent for a century, thanks to a conservation project begun in 2017. The initiative involved relocating young ospreys from Scotland to establish a breeding population in the region. A recent study highlights the importance of "pioneer" pairs – the initial breeding birds – in accelerating the species’ spread into new areas. These pioneering ospreys quickly establish new breeding groups, significantly boosting population growth. Translocation, therefore, acts as a shortcut, drastically reducing the time it would take for ospreys to naturally recolonize the area. Consequently, the new osprey populations are expanding and connecting southern England with existing osprey territories.