ELCANO September 6th 2014.- The beginning of the adventure

In the morning, at about 12:00, Elcano has decided to start migrating.

Elcano on a perch in Urdaibai.

In the 11th July we brought 11 ospreys. After 8 weeks, Elcano has been the sixth osprey that has set out on his journey forwards Africa.

Thanks to the satellite signals we are going to know his migration path and which is going to be his final wintering area. We don't know whether is going to meet his "brothers" from Urdaibai, the ospreys we released the last year or even his Scot brothers.

In his first big flight, he has left Urdaibai and set a course for the southwest, at about 37 k.p.h. He has done about 100 kilometers, over Forua, Errigoiti and Usansolo. After flying over Aiara valley, he has crossed Sierra Sálvada and gone ahead Burgos.

Sierra Sálvada. Author: Ardo Beltza

At 18:00 he has arrived in Santa María de Garoña, near Ebro. He spent the night in this place, near the nuclear power station.
It's time to rest four our Elcano. This has been the first day of his journey and there is still a long way to do.

You can see today's path on this map: