This technology builds on the blog and the live nestcam in inspiring the huge online community which avidly follow the Loch Garten ospreys, in addition to the thousands of visitors that come and see them in the flesh every summer", said Ross Watson, warden of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' Abernethy Reserve, the nest's location.

"For the first time, we'll have an accurate idea of where these birds winter and how long it takes them to get there. As well as teaching us more about their behaviour, we hope to link up with people and schools along the migration route, to share information and enhance protection for these magnificent birds throughout the year."

advertisementHe expects the chicks to fledge during the course of this month and then they'll spend about four weeks learning to fly and feed around Strathspey. "Towards the end of August, they'll head south bound for West Africa, although this time we'll be able to keep an eye on them all the way."

Nethy and Deshar are the latest stage of a Loch Garten soap opera plotline that reached new drama heights last year with a much-publicised love triangle.

Their mother, known as EJ, the letters on her leg ring, had a regular mate called Henry but after he failed to appear she paired up with an old flame called VS and two eggs were duly laid.

But then Henry returned late from West Africa and, furious at this cuckoldry, not only kicked the eggs out of the nest but responded similarly when two more were laid. After that eggs were laid following EJ's mating with Henry but no young were reared.

This spring a re-run seemed in prospect when EJ returned and - with Henry again nowhere in sight - VS resumed his wooing. However, this time Henry didn't make a late appearance - and Nethy and Deshar are the result of EJ and VS at last becoming an established pair.

For the satellite tagging project, the RSPB called in Roy Dennis of the Highland Foundation for Wildlife, an expert in this field and whose previous efforts are the reason why there is no doubt this latest development will arouse mass international interest.

This is because, thanks to his previous tagging activities, large numbers of internet bird watchers followed the progress of an osprey called Logie during her bad weather-delayed spring flight from Guinea Bissau, West Africa, to her nest near Forres, Moray.

This intensified after she crossed the Channel, between Bayeaux, France, and the coast near Brighton and proceeded northwards, including overflying Heathrow runways. Knowledge of her position due to the internet enabled some people to see and photograph her during the journey.