M M G. said

05 July 2008 14:47

They all look quite content back in the nest , that is great one of each sex. .

Carrie said

05 July 2008 14:49

Bless them, nice and peaceful non the worse for their trip to terra firma and back again.

Valerie said

05 July 2008 14:50

They look peaceful now bet they were not whilst being tagged eh David !!! Lovely Nethy and Deshar , must have meanings for those names , well done all now I can get my fix and look forward to the weeks ahead .

Caberfeidh said

05 July 2008 14:52

Wonderful to have the cameras back.All looks calm. Mum on guard so that no more nasty men can come and upset her babies He Heeee !!!!

Well done team on a job well done. Will look forward to watching their progress by Sat Nav..

Matpigan said

05 July 2008 14:54

Sweet names!  :)

They look cool and pleased, even after that "ringing". But it looks like they are thinking ...about the "adventure they have been through".

susan said

05 July 2008 15:03

All look well, and none the worse from the episode.  Whata difference to the picture, Thank you.  Daughter not happy that oldeest and biggest is female and hence in her eyes,the bully,

Carrie said

05 July 2008 15:04

3.01. OVS yet another stick, what goods that lad, off you go and get us a fish!

Robert said

05 July 2008 15:19

Congratulations to Nethy and Deshar on their christening,may they live long and fruitful lives.

Nigel Reeves said

05 July 2008 15:27

All looks well - EJ gone off after much calling. Nice names!.  Wasn't prepared for the length of the 'aerial' though!

Got no 1's sex right, anyway!  We'll be up there on Monday - can't wait!

PennyB said

05 July 2008 15:27

Yeay!! I guessed right on the sexes. Congratulations on a successful tagging.

ElaineC said

05 July 2008 15:36

Good to know that we have one of each. Glad all went well and hopefully not too many bits of LG team lost to those beaks! Good to see everyone happy. Be interesting in future to see where they are.

Mitch said

05 July 2008 15:45

Sitting preening in the sunshine. The start of many great adventures. Can you tell us if we can follow their migration progress via the website and if so how, once they leave the nest please.

susan said

05 July 2008 15:50

sorry about that = nothing wrong with him probably standig on his own feet

Barbara Jean said

05 July 2008 15:58

OVS just brought a fish. Nethy was between EJ and OVS when he landed  so there was much flapping of wings as EJ tried to get  over Nethy to  grab the  fish. Very comical.

Deshar just stood back and watched the  commotion.

The nest is  crowded with four large birds.

The are eating as if nothing happened  to them today.

Caberfeidh said

05 July 2008 16:29

Poor Deshar looks as though he is having trouble getting his balance right with the ariel stuck on his back..Very wobbly but guess he will get used to it..and big sister has had a nibble at it already !!!

Woody said

05 July 2008 16:41

Terrific idea to name them for the local schools - makes it special. Wonder which schools - if any - they are near when they migrate? Will we be able to "follow" them?

quietwoman said

05 July 2008 16:50

Good news, Thanks, team for repeatedly coming back to keep us up to date. Like the names. One of each seems about right. May they live long, be very productive and come and visit us often.

Carrie said

05 July 2008 17:12

Just out of interest the Loch Frisa Sea Eagles have just been sexed one of each as well. They are called Mara & Breagha (pronounced Bree ha) meanings Sea & Beautiful.

Sandra said

05 July 2008 17:51

Does anyone Know if the Sea Eagles off the coast of Skye had any chicks this year. I am going to that area next Saturday for a Holiday and I am hoping to go on a boat trip to see them.

Caberfeidh said

05 July 2008 18:22

Poor little Hobby being windblown in the tree down south !!

Having to use her tail as a balancing rudder !

To answer Woody, if you go to www.roydennis.org and follow his links you can see the wonderful tracking they did on other Ospreys. Plus, presumably as he did the tracking on our two chicks today, we will be able to follow them migrating, hopefully !!!

It is a fabulous site with loads of information on it..

Caledonian said

05 July 2008 18:39

I have been searching to find out if the names have identified meanings in Gaelic - Nothing so far for Deshar, but did find this for Nethy - In Gaelic it is "Neithich," and has been variously explained. Some connect it with "Neithe," the God of the Waters, and others with "Nectan," the Pictish King.

Dorothy Wilson said

05 July 2008 18:45

I thought the aeriels looked rather long but they will not be as big in relation to the chicks when they are full grown. I also thought that OVS was reacting to the disturbance of the nest by trying to build a barricade (think he is part French!) as he brought in two large sticks before he brought a fish. With the first stick he trapped on of the chicks wings with making me cringe lest he did it an injury. Then he came in with the second one and landed with it on both EJ and the other chick.  

Ret said

05 July 2008 19:59

Ret said... So pleased tagging is over for our little family...luv there names...very unusual...look forward to seeing them fledge now ...although will be sad once they have left the nest ....great now webcam lens cleaned...thanks

susan said

05 July 2008 20:04

I know I keep repeating myself,but I cannae help it.  This has been the best education, and David Attenborough hasn't had anything to do with it.(My hero) David Gascgoigne you have kept us well informed and answered all our queries. My husband is delighted too cos I have BWPI open whilst watching the video so am able to read and watch at the same time.  I was concerned about their wings a couple of weeks ago, something didn't seem quite right, but just tabbed onto BWPI(hope this doesn't sound like and advert) and was able to read about the physiology of birds and was reassured.  Anyway today seems like we've reached a milestone and whilst we have a few weeks until EJ leaves followed by OVS and then the twins, I.m definitely getting that 'empty nest feeling' and wondering what am I going to do with myself. Oh silly me, no time for pondering, the post breeding migration is about to start -  

birders calendar is always busy and before we know it ...........

Wild Freckle said

05 July 2008 21:24

Wow! Thanks for cleaning the camera too - its made such a difference - you can really see the colours more clearly on the chicks and adults feathers - also the greenery in the nest looks good.  Its incredible how quickly the chicks have grown - doesnt seem like five minutes when we were asking "is that an egg?" and here we are nearly fledging - hope they can last till next week when we visit!  I know its all been said before but huge huge thanks to David and his team at Loch Garten for the great job they do - not only look after visitors to the centre, answering blogs, dealing with death but looking after these wonderful birds and the other wildlife at Loch Garten - its a privilidge to share a bit with you!

Von said

05 July 2008 22:07

Sorry it is me again! ..........I  Love to watch the ospreys, and the peregrines bring in their kill to feed their young, to fly through the air with such speed and majestic grace!

but please will someone explain to me why it is okay to tag and aeriel the chicks ( which incidentally I do NOT have a problem with!) BUT THEN to say we should leave nature to itself and not help when we can!!>>>>>>>>>>>>> (sorry David)

David Gascoigne replies.

Check what was said in the "We all have an opinion blog" ...

Caberfeidh said

05 July 2008 23:03

Liked the Blog Dorothy.

I suspect that OVS is trying to teach Deshar his nestbuilding skills that he will need in the future !!

I missed the event sadly but it does sound as though nestbuilding like everything else OVS does is done a bit clumsily..

Having said that he has brought fish ( albeit small ones on occasion ) has seen off other intruders in a heroic fashion and has stayed faithful to the family as far as we know.

Susan Warne said

06 July 2008 01:26

Thank you David & the LG team for a wonderful time watching the nest. I am very lucky living on the Black Isle seeing our local osprey fishing, soaring red kite with such wonderful colours plus other raptors. (not forgetting the dolphins) To see the nest at LG & watch EJ & OVS though has been a tremdous learning curve & once again I thank you & God speed Nethy & Deshar on their first journey.  May the sun shine on their days & the stars watch over them at night.

Barbara Jean said

06 July 2008 05:43

The chicks are snuggled next to each other sleeping. Deshar has his head on Nethy . Seeing these innocent chicks it  is hard to realize they are  birds of prey and soon they will  learn to fight for their survival and the survival of their  offspring.  

I wonder how long it will before they are no longer such close companions.  

Barbara Jean said

06 July 2008 06:52

OVS brought the remains of a 3/4th eaten fish. EJ is clearly annoyed. She  grumbled the entire time she dished out the  meager fair to the  chicks. There were just a few bits for each one. She is now calling him to bring a  whole fish!  

Maureen McCann said

06 July 2008 07:57

Sorry it's me again too....fully support Von's opinions and would like to 'guide' him/her to THE RUTLAND OSPREY PROJECT.... this answered a lot of my questions.

I too don't like to see tagging devices,strapped to wild creatures, but the information gleaned from them can/may help us humans to 'make' things better for future generations.   'Our teenagers' look none the worse for their 'body piercing' exercise of yesterday and appear to be waiting for breakfast.  Don't want them to go!

Von said

06 July 2008 09:03

sorry again David checjed previous blog .....it still can't be natural to have microwaves going round with you ( a bit like our mobile phones,what?) We choose, they don't! It is to satisfy our enqiring minds! it is interesting and helpful for scientific data, but not nature (al) Please try to see I am not saying it is wrong, just that it is NOT natural anymore than helping a chick, although it is going to sound like I am labouring a point, I can't see that there is anything wrong with either. Don't care if you post this, just want you to read it really!

Woody said

06 July 2008 09:21

Thanks for the link, Caberfeidh.  Also saw a link to 'our' ospreys when I went back to the main page - excellent!  Does anyone know whether the ospreycams are available in the any of the schools near where they winter?  And if not, wouldn't it be good if we could facilitate it?  When I read how much genuine feeling is expressed in this blog - and how protective we've become - it could be a great opportunity...

Loony Lynne said

06 July 2008 10:12

Re interfering with nature.... I feed the birds in my garden, but if an egg doesn't hatch or a fledgling is wandering (and i think has been abandoned) i don't interfere...  I in the full sense of the term am 'interfering' by feeding -  but only to try and ensure many garden species have the best possible chance of survival  (and for personal gain - cos i like to watch them). With regards to these Birds of Prey, is it not the same? Humans are monitoring and watching the lifecycle of the Ospreys and others to try and determine if the species is ok (I would like to think if there were only 2 living Ospreys in the world, we would interfere if we thought a chick wasn't going to survive - only to assist in the survival of the species). We see this so many times with the wildlife programs.. Species are monitored and we hear of babies not surviving all the time (we just don't get to 'see' it - in this webcam we do and I am 100% grateful for the oppurtunity), whereas with endagered species we do try and rescue them and start breeding programs.  Again it is one of those debates that everyone has an opinion on and never will there be the right answer.  It would be interesting if we tagged the human race and monitored them - but did nothing when they were in trouble?

louie said

06 July 2008 10:14

Wont the aerial get in the way of mating for Nethy?  I know it's years ahead  but ........

Can anyone advise as to whether these two will become "intruders" to be chased off in the future??? Providing of course that EJ keeps coming back to this nest!

Sandra said

06 July 2008 10:26

Do the trackers fall off the birds at all or are they there forever.

MargovR said

06 July 2008 11:38

OVS has just brought a chunk of moss. First thought was, what an idiot. Second thought was, he's teaching the kids how to line their nest! He's flown off again and maybe will bring back some lunch. Or maybe not.

seaweed said

06 July 2008 11:44

Not sure what he has just brought in, it looked liked a ball of dried up moss? The rest of the family did not appear to be impressed

Caberfeidh said

06 July 2008 11:47

Von !

There is a massive difference in 'tagging' and 'rescuing a dying chick'

Tagging means RSPB can monitor where chicks go on their first winter. It will give them info on fishing grounds and safe perching sites with posibility in the future of perhaps new reserves being set up or acquired..It gives them insight into first year behaviour and survival patterns, i.e. will they stay together..The information will enhance Osprey survival chances by their acquisition of knowledge of them.

That is in my opinion..

'Rescuing a dying chick on the nest' is direct interference with the process of what the RSPB is all about. That is the monitoring and protection of nest sites around the country from interference of the public and primarily egg thieves and chick thieves of predatory birds. It is not in their remit to go rushing up to save every chick that is in trouble to handrear it. The likelyhood of chick survival would be slim anyway plus it would cost thousands and thousands of pounds of people-time to attempt it anyway. Money is much better spent in other areas.

susan said

06 July 2008 12:16

Agree lynn, -  perhaps if we'd been monitored long time ago  wildlife would still have meadows,grasslands wetlands,forests etc in which to feed, n breed, alas no. So to make up for this, we fill feeders and grow flowers for them to feed on(someone thought this was interfering). I think there is a difference between this and going to a nest, causing absoulte stress to parents and chicks alike to save an ailing chick.   - oops  On reflection that's what happened yesterday when they got  ringed - oh I hate this argument.  -  No  I'm sticking to my convicitions and abandoning my previous assumption, yesterdays actions were essential for the protection  species - in my opinion.

Matpigan said

06 July 2008 15:35

Von and Maureen ...

I have the same thoughts/doubts as you, (but I’m not good in English and can’t express myself that good) But, same question from me: is it right to put a "thing" on a living creature? I can't say that I like it, but I do like to watch this WONDERFUL web cam, and I like the blog.

Anne S said

06 July 2008 16:40

Those aerials on their backs seem huge. Will they carry them for the rest of their lives? Did the mother have one as well?

They are a lovely little family, and I have to agree that you were right not to interfere when the baby chick was being bullied and finally died, upsetting as it was.  It is nature's way of making sure only the fittest of the species survives unfortunately. I am sure it happens in lots more cases than we can ever imagine, and we just never know. By the way, was it's little body ever removed from the nest?

susan said

06 July 2008 16:41

just a thought David you've spent so much time 'monitoring' us as well, I wonder - will you miss all of US at the end of the season lol

Dorothy Wilson said

06 July 2008 18:08

5.10pm rain has stopped play at Wimbledon but never mind because EJ returned to the nest after being away for what seemed like ages with a small fish. Followed seconds later by OVS whom I presume was waiting nearby for her, with a much bigger offering. She snatched his fish, fed it to the chicks and did the same afterwards with her catch. So that was much better than listening to Sue Barker, etc. trying to fill the gap. Good timing Mum and Dad.

On the subject of what was done to the chicks yesterday, well ringing has gone on for years so that is not really an issue and it does help to identify and age individual birds which return year after year without doing any harm.

Also having seen what we learnt about Logie's migrations last autumn and this spring, (see Highland wildlife foundation website) she proved that this equipment worked very well and had no detrimental effect on her. She returned to lay a clutch of eggs on her nest in the Murray firth area. She was fit and well enough to fight off an intruding female who had it's sights set on taking over her nest and her mate! QED

I agree we have let our wildlife down terribly, this year I saw linnets for the first time in many years. Not near my home in the English midlands, where I think they are probably extinct but up in the Lakes. When I was a child in the fifties my father had, quite legally, an aviary full of birds which were then so common but are now on the red list. I am delighted that, although I live on the edge of a city, I get great spotted woodpeckers on  my peanut feeder, bullfinches on my other feeders and this year have had Mistle thrushes and Song thrushes bringing their young to feed on the bread I put out. In fact I am so obsessed with interferring with nature that I put food out every night for foxes and hedgehogs, too. I even buy hedgehog meat and cadge puppy food from my local hedgehog rescue lady.

My most successful interferring with nature so far was to take an extremely sick hedgehog to a rescue centre last December and return him to my garden in April complete with a wife!! They both still come to feed every night. Got to go now the tennis has just started again and my feeders need topping up.

Maureen McCann said

06 July 2008 18:28

Caberfeidh and fellow bloggers  in support of (myself  included) not interfering with nature......as Susan say this is a 'moral maze' of an argument!  Before I 'registered my official opinion' I thought I would get more info......The Rutland Osprey Project (2000), which I have mentioned before contains a wealth of  information....eg, 10 healthy 6 week old chicks were taken from their nests to enable this research to be carried out.   I FULLY SUPPORT THIS RESEARCH...... if we want to protect/increase the species it is a 'necessary evil'.  What I cannot get my “head round” is.....if healthy chicks can be removed from the nest for research purposes.....why can we not remove a 'suddenly'(and it was sudden) sick little chick?.....it may have survived, obviously hand rearing is possible (Rutland Project 2000)........if it had not survived then we could have (maybe) found out why not.

To finish on a happier note it is lovely to see Nethy and Deshar 'coorying'(cuddling) in to each other and they do look magnificent!!!!  Again .....I shall miss them so much!!!!

Andi.K said

06 July 2008 18:39

wonderful view now that lens is clean..the chicks,( love their names by the way,) are really stretching their wings. EJ looks a little bedraggled, apart from it being a tad blustery here today, is she moulting?

louie said

06 July 2008 19:02

Why is it that good people doing good for wildlife have to answer to others who just have to criticize instead of getting out and doing something useful.  Would the critics like all they say and do to come under public gaze and scrutiny.  I'm just so glad that David and his team dont seem to take adverse comments too much too heart.  It shows the calibre of the team.  Keep doing what you're doing!!!!!!!

Dorothy Wilson said

06 July 2008 19:41

7.30pm Nice big fish for supper I think dad brought that one in.

Barbara Jean said

06 July 2008 19:47

OVS made up for his last few snack size fish and brought a whopper. The chicks are full and there is still half of the fish left for EJ. All will sleep with full crops tonight.

Dorothy Wilson said

06 July 2008 19:48

Nice to see EJ having a really good feed off that 7.30pm fish, as the chicks are obviously completely stuffed!!!

Mitch said

06 July 2008 19:52

I'm sure the trackers will fall off after a period of time anyway (correct me if I'm wrong David). Anything that gives us a better understanding of what these birds get up to whilst away from the UK can only be of benefit. Are there any plans to encourage them to nest in other area's of the country? I'm sure there would be suitable sites for them here in Devon.

TomTrout said

06 July 2008 20:17

The newly cleaned camera is giving me a perfect view, really good work.

Difference between tracking and interfering is that the birds will continue to live a natural life, the tracking will not affect this.

Taking a chick from the nest would not give the chick a natural life.

Von said

06 July 2008 23:15

Just for the record, have rescued quite a few birds , so we do do something and not just urge others to do so,but active also!Where there is life there is hope!

Maureen McCann said

07 July 2008 01:02

TomTrout........please see The Rutland Osprey Project (2000)? web site.......... 10 healthy chicks taken from their nests HAVE gone on to lead a Natural life and provided us with VALUABLE information, which can only benefit the Ospreys in the long run by TEACHING us what we can/cannot do to protect them!!!!!!   Youngsters nestling together.....feel like putting a wee blanket over them!!

Dorothy Wilson said

07 July 2008 07:22

I am still convinced the little chick got enteritis because it was pooing all the time hence it's quick demise - dehydration. This was borne out by how the corpse became like a biscuit. And well said Louie, my big blog was also a bit of mickey taking on the same point. Lastly, lets us never forget fishing is not easy, OK ospreys live on fish but what Caberfeidh said 5 july 23.03 in OVS's defence I fully concur with, he is a bit comical at times but he does bring in most of the food.

Sandra said

07 July 2008 08:59

Can we please finish the debate about the third chick as it is long finished with. I look at the blog everyday and I am getting a bit fed up with the same old thing cropping up all the time. Surely there is no more to say about it as David said everyone has their own opions and we have heard them all by now.  Don't the chicks look amazing.

Maureen McCann said

07 July 2008 09:33

9am......'Suppose we better get up now'......breakfast has just been delivered, HUGE HUGE fish.    I am amazed at how 'civilized' feeding times have become....and lovely to hear 'twitterings' instead of 'squawkings'.  I think this fish will last until lunch time!!!!!

Bon appetit!

gsnowey said

07 July 2008 09:57

What a lovely view of all the family today, when OVS brought in a huge fish at 9.05am. Nethy and Deshar were joined on the nest by EJ and all three were food calling then OVS came with the fish, but EJ quickly took it from him and he flew off, leaving EJ to start on her meal first ,but of course, the chicks soon joined in, and at times, were eating the fish themselves, in between her feeding them, as well. They are really begining to look like fully grown Ospreys now and at times you can see the beginnings of their crest developing. Last night there was a lot of wing flapping going on around 23.00 it was really in ernest so another few days and we may see them taking that first flight, hope I see it!

Carol said

07 July 2008 09:59

Chicks relocated to Rutland were fledging and capable of feeding themselves although not fishing quite yet. Live fish were fed to them through hatches so they had minimal human contact. This is not the same as hand-rearing a sick chick. Fish delivered this morning so big EJ having trouble finishing it. They all need to be in perfect physical condition for the hazardous journey that awaits them.

Caberfeidh said

07 July 2008 10:31

Hear Hear Sandra. Well said... Family look fabulous this morning if a little damp. Its drizzling here in the Highlands. Good fish OVS....

Caberfeidh said

07 July 2008 10:40

David,

Were EJ and Ovs ever given names?

REPLY

No, They take their names (as you probably know), from their leg rings.

dodo said

07 July 2008 11:00

Got my knucles rapped there didn't I

quietwoman said

07 July 2008 11:27

Lovely this morning. Please hang on to some good clear weather for this weekend. Nethy, looking splendid, has lost the 'scaly' feathers on her back and wings. She can be mistaken for EJ now. Thanks for all the news on the blogs, but please do as David asked and stop the 'interference' debate. It's not getting anyone anywhere and has become quite boring.

Amy said

07 July 2008 11:28

Hi everyone, I'm on holiday at the moment so haven't been able to tune in as often as normal.  Have looked through the blogs but can't find any reference to the little chicks body having been moved, although did find a comment about how it had turned into a biscuit?  Have I missed something or is it still on the nest? Thanks in advance for info on this.

REPLY...... The female removed the chick on Friday afternoon.... I will be writing about this in a round-up blog in a few days.

Sixy said

07 July 2008 12:12

I can't believe the debate over 'Braveheart' is still going on.  s/he really touched everyone's hearts.  As a Piscean, I can see both sides to the argument.  I would have hand reared it myself if I could have done! .

EJ looking really well.  She is standing in the breeze with the wind blowing her crest up, she looks a really cute bird (OVS watch out)!  Young'uns look so brilliant, so big!  Will it be some time this week when Nethy flies do you think?  I would think Deshar would fly a few days later.  Love the names by the way.  Lovely to name them after the primary schools.  I always thought Nethy was male and Deshar female (what a shock).  Although judging by the way EJ treats OVS, I don't know why I thought that in the first place.

Sixy said

07 July 2008 12:28

They all look so content on the nest this morning. EJ keeps going into a bird-nap, just one happy well fed family. Lovely, I could curl up there myself (I'm only little!)

Tiger said

07 July 2008 13:55

Caberfeidh. Yes there was a long naming process in 2004 and the name EJ won the day. (nothing to do with a certain airline). I do think that Eliza was name in second place.

Gareth C said

07 July 2008 16:12

Can you tell me how long before the youngsters will able to fly?

Sixy said

07 July 2008 16:13

Tiger: I think EJ makes her sound like a 'cool chick'. I like it, it suits her. Not sure how true it is that it stands for Easy Jane!

RobRobboRobbie said

07 July 2008 16:33

Maureen McCann - I told von this but it was presumably glossed over or ignored. The Rutland project clearly states the 'chicks' being collected are 6 weeks old. I suggest those collected are never at death's door either. Comparing both scenarios is flawed. I thought this subject would have run it's course by now!

Carol said

07 July 2008 17:33

Just been reading the wonderful details from Rutland on the ringing of their three chicks(2 female and 1 male). Lovely photos as well. It would be fantastic if we could have similar photos if available. please please please.

sjb said

07 July 2008 17:57

EJ currently calling for food, while Nethy and Deshar are being quite placid.  Ity is great to have such lovey names for the chicks. I think that the chicks have been quite well fed today as everythings is so calm. Think I can also hear a bit of rain  on the microphone. Hello there goes that bug again crawling on the camera lens.  I hope that David and team did not get too many scratches when ringing the birds.  Are they very heavy?  A great job done and great to see them all looking in fine health.

Stevie said

07 July 2008 18:19

David or any of the ringing team, how do these chicks react to ringing? - I recently watched young Tawny Owls being rung and they were so relaxed and contented with their fat bellies they almost looked drunk - no stress whatsoever.  Were the Osprey a little more vocal and boisterous? - I'd imagine a wary eye may have been kept on those talons.  

Ospreyfreak said

07 July 2008 18:46

talking about ringing I would like to know how an ospreys leg works?

Maureen McCann said

07 July 2008 19:06

RobRobboRobbie...Thank you....just pointing out the fact chicks were taken from their nests with no apparent harm to remaining families/hand rearing possible. Only my opinion and.....END OF DISCUSSION on my part. Looking forward to 'birth' of Hobby chicks in approx. 3 days...will help us cope with Nethy & Deshar's 'leaving home'. Have you seen the most gorgeous Common Tern chicks?

Caberfeidh said

07 July 2008 19:43

Thanks Tiger for the name info..I love the certain airline reference...I think Easyjet would be a suberb name for her as when she is flying that is what she looks like !!!!

I was at the fishery at Rothiemurchus and saw what I thought was EJ swoop and get a fish. I am fairly sure it was EJ as I caught an E for sure on her legband and she was heading back towards the nest...

Its a dreich night here in the highlands, still it will be getting them used to getting wet when they fish!!

m lake said

07 July 2008 20:06

I am interested to know if a fully grown ospray needs to eat every day?. I have learned so much about the lives of these beautiful birds through the web cam over the past weeks but there is still so much to learn. I am really going to miss them. It would appear from observing them that bonding occurs especially with the chicks, that one wonders if there is recognition when they meet in the wild or if that ceases once they leave the nest?  

Karen said

07 July 2008 20:07

Von, keep persisting and don’t apologise for what you write.  I do not see how it is OK to remove chicks from a nest to tag but not help a nest – what are we about?  Opinions count!!  Someday, someone will listen.

I believe “BH”, our wee Braveheart did not die in vain and s/he’s short life will change how we support these magnificent birds.  This is my opinion and what I support.  

Fratricide was something I could not watch.  Only now I have switched on but I am still upset and angry nothing was done.   The lack of food was evident from week 2 resulting EJ had to go fishing.  

We could have made real use of satellite equipment – this mother was trying.  We knew bad weather was expected and following the Friday feast the rain came.  EJ could not leave the nest and when she did, she came back empty taloned.  The ugly scenes returned and the wee one was now doomed.  

I thought Ospreys only accepted fish from their mate but the night before the wee one died, EJ was away and OVS left a fish.  EJ returned, picked up the fish – it was not handed to her from OVS - and began to feed her chick.  I do not believe we could not have helped nor do I think putting up a couple of fish during the bad weather is interfering but in fact an example of man’s excellent use of satellite.    

If man can climb up to a nest to remove a chick to tag, then man could have climbed and put up some fish to help until the weather settled and EJ got back fishing.  

Our climate is changing; we are taking steps to deal with global warming so what is wrong with helping our wildlife, after all man has caused the issues!!  

EJ rewrote the text books - why couldn’t Loch Garten?  We really would have had something to have been proud off!!

REPLY.... THIS IS THE LAST COMMENT I WILL PUBLISH ABOUT THE DEAD CHICK. IF YOU READ THE PREVIOUS BLOGS YOU WILL KNOW WHY WE DIDN'T GO UP.  ANY COMMENTS MENTIONING THE DEATH WILL BE DELETED. I FEEL THAT I HAVE LET BOTH SIDES HAVE THEIR SAY AND WE MUST MOVE ON. 

Lesley said

07 July 2008 20:44

Just loving watching these two in the nest tonight.  So close together and they keep looking at each other and taking an interest in what the other is doing.  Love it when they see something overhead and two pairs of orange eyes simultaneously look up and follow whether it be another bird or a plane.  Just wonderful viewing :o)

m lake said

07 July 2008 21:51

Have not seen a fish delivery tonight. EJ returned empty taloned and was food calling. has given up now and is attempting to cover chicks like she used to. looks like she is squashing them but they are not objecting. She is still protecting them.

m lake said

07 July 2008 21:54

Spoke too soon , good old OVS just arrived with LARGE fish

seaweed said

07 July 2008 21:54

Supper has just been delivered

Barbara Jean said

07 July 2008 21:57

OVS just brought what looks like a very good size fish.

Before he got there EJ was trying to brood the chicks. It was quite a sight since they are so large and she had a difficult time trying to get between them.  

Ret said

07 July 2008 22:04

Im sorry to say but we have been watching babys all day on and off and the more i see those aerials the more cross i feel ....they are awful it seems such a shame..they seem to be getting in the way alot...infact mom was sitting on top of both the chicks  tonight ..and the aerials were getting in the way... a friend of mine emailed me and was saying...."   maybe other birds will reject them with them stupid things in their backs you know what animals and birds are like  they don't like others who are not what they should be" ,,,and I agree entirely with her....

Oh well will continue to enjoy watchin webcam...

Loony Lynne said

07 July 2008 22:13

10.10pm How nice to see EJ having a good feed! - Lovely clear cameras, great action tonight

TomTrout said

07 July 2008 22:16

Is that a fish or an old boot? EJ seems to be having trouble breaking it up!

TomTrout said

07 July 2008 22:18

Regarding the Rutland project, that was a project to collect chicks, this one is not.

Ret said

07 July 2008 22:26

Oh boy...baby chick nearly pocked moms eye out with that aerial....!!!!!!!!

Carol said

07 July 2008 22:58

Have noticed on other ospey sites that all the rings used so far this year have been white. Is this so that when the chicks return it is easier to identify the year they hatched, I wonder. Hope the horrendous thunderstorm we had at tea-time on Tees-side didn't get upto Strathspey. Dog ended up shivering under the computer desk!  David: you have been so patient with the bloggers. We need more grounded people like you to ensure the survival of all endangered species. Thank you to you and your team and hope to see you soon as visiting sometime in next two weeks.

Carol said

07 July 2008 23:06

Answer to question for Louie- "Wont the aerial get in the way of mating for Nethy?"- It certainly didn't stop Logie!!!!!

Carol said

07 July 2008 23:19

For Sandra report from website Skye-Birds on Sea Eagles . "It appears that breeding birds are not doing so well this year with only 4 nests still active. There are however lots of wandering juveniles including an East of Scotland bird which is fitted with a radio transmitter and also has a wing tag White 5. This is at least the second East Coast bird to reach the west coast and the second batch of chicks for this project will arrive in Fife later this week. No coloured wing tags will be fitted this year though birds will be fitted with coloured darvic rings "

Maureen McCann said

07 July 2008 23:23

Thank you David!     Like 'm lake' I too have been observing the bonding between chicks and thought it would be nice to think that, in the wild, they 'looked out' for each other and stayed in close proximity to each other.........tracking information, hopefully, will provide answers to these and other questions. Love to see the enormous wings flapping but, only reminds me.............

Ospreyfreak said

07 July 2008 23:29

Could you add to your last DC all comments concerning RadioInterferance please the radios give us just so so much information for all seriously interested and promoting the birds,although they do have a minor down side,but as you have already pointed out previous ly subject is closed, also any experts in here know about talons tendons and tarsi

Tiger said

08 July 2008 10:03

I disagree that EJ rewrote the text books by going fishing. In June 2006 Betty the female on the DPOF nest almost certainly saved chick #3 life by going fishing when the male (Dennis) was only bringing in small fish. Flag eventually fledged after 66 days i what was an amazing saga.

I am pretty certain that the great matriarch at Rutland has been known to go fishing at least once and her mate is a briliant provider of fish. The females at Bassenthwaite (Lake District) have been known to fish too.

However the most amazing story in the annals of Loch Garten was when the male Ollie raised two chicks as a single father when the female was killed (1992?)

REPLY... It was 1993 when Ollie raised the chicks.... I am almost sure that I said we had witnessed this sort of behaviour before when the male abandoned or was not providing enough, the "textbook" reference was because the chicks were so full that their crops were bulging - three large fish had been delivered the day she decided to fly off for herself.

freedomrgb1 said

11 July 2008 20:35

As a first time 'blogger' am I allowed to ask for a brief rundown since March and as I looked at one blog you need not mention the 'D**th. I have been many times to Loch Garten since 1996 and listened to talks by Richard Thaxton and been on a guided walk where the ranger laid down in the road to look up at a bird! Great stuff. I have limited time online and could not find a brief whole season update within the time I had.

Thanks

REPLY..... Send me an e-mail with your address and I can send you a run-down of the season so far