Official Press Release

Ruairidh McDonald releases vibrant new single ‘Fly Lady Fly’

celebrating ‘Lady’ the record-breaking osprey

Written by Fiona Kennedy and Nils Elders

The record-breaking osprey ‘Lady’ at the Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve in Perthshire has inspired singer and producer Fiona Kennedy to pen a new song ‘Fly Lady Fly’. This debut single is a catchy, vibrant and upbeat mix of pure pop, tribal Celtic and African chant featuring the very talented, young Aviemore boy, Ruairidh McDonald (13). The song was first performed in Fiona’s stage production ‘The Kist’ and is now available to download from iTunes and Amazon and can be viewed on YouTube.

Fiona was inspired to write ‘Fly Lady, Fly’ after visiting the record breaking osprey at the Loch of the Lowes in Dunkeld, Perthshire and hearing about its incredible journey every year. ‘Lady’, is believed at the age of 27, to be the oldest breeding osprey in the UK and every winter makes the 3000 mile migration to West Africa and back.

A donation from the single will be made to the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Rutland Water Nature Reserve; both charities run fantastic Osprey projects.

Fiona said: “I think it’s brilliant that this great old bird ‘Lady’ has defied all the odds and is still going strong. She definitely deserves her own bird song! It’s an amazing story – she came home to Scotland again this March, found a new toy boy called Laddie and is still producing chicks! We want to celebrate this and all ospreys, as well as our great natural landscape, so vital for their wellbeing. It’s also important to salute all the volunteers who help to provide the safe habitat for birds and animals. Ruairidh is a cracking young singer and audiences just take to him and the song is a lovely way to tell a true story about a very special osprey.

Ruairidh McDonald added: “I really enjoy singing ‘Fly Lady Fly’ especially when I’ve been to visit Lady and her chick and have seen them from the secret hide. Now I’m hooked on the webcam! These birds are incredible, flying 3000 miles all the way to West Africa and back. We made a video of the song in the Cairngorms in a howling gale which was quite challenging. It’s been amazing being on the road doing ‘The Wee Osprey Tour’ over the last few weeks and singing the song live to audiences. People have been getting up and dancing and clapping along, which is really great.