This week we had a visit from a group of children form Deshar Primary, the school which named our chicks last year. They came along to build a bug hotel for the Osprey Centre, using the wooden pallets that our shop stock is delivered on. Old plant pots, bricks and bamboo canes were also recycled from Richard’s garden to create nooks and crannies for the insects. The children collected pine cones and sticks to fill the pallets with and small logs with drilled holes were also slotted into the gaps. Deadwood is important for insects, which in turn is a good food source for many birds. There is no shortage of deadwood here at Abernethy, important for housing the insects that young caper chicks feed upon. However, the bug hotel is a great example of how you can give nature a home away from nature reserves in places where insects, toads and hedgehogs maybe need a little more help – like in your garden or school playground. If you want to help give nature a home then make your pledge here: http://homes.rspb.org.uk
And read here on how to make your own bug hotel – as well as looking great it is also loads of fun to build and won’t cost you a penny! http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/insects/wildlifestack.aspx
We also had a visit from MileEnd Primary who not only raised money for the ospreys but also raised money to fund their trip here to visit the Centre by holding a car wash! The children had a great time and were thrilled to finally meet EJ and Odin who they have been watching on the webcam in their classroom. They were able to see the nest for the first time and got a real idea for the size. They even had a go at building their own osprey nest on the path to the Centre. Thanks again to the class for their hard work and raising £263.10.
Our chicks are looking like proper young ospreys now but they are still full of childish mischief. If they aren’t having a go at each other then it is EJ who is being pecked at by a grumpy chick – usually when she is trying to cover them from the rain. Even Odin got a nip from the youngsters yesterday. However, there is nothing wrong with being feisty and this will certainly help them get by in the real world when they eventually leave the nest. It is still a few weeks yet before these two take their first leap of faith but already they are stretching their clumsy wings and having a few practice flaps.
A chick testing it's wings today, photo taken by our volunteer Alison.
Those of you concerned about Odin’s long absence from the nest yesterday will be relieved to know that he wasn’t far way. He was perched on a cut back pine beside the camera tree, looking slightly soggy from the recent rain. This has been his favourite perch this year.
EJ chasing off an intruder this afternoon. Photos by Alison.
Last year’s fledgling, Caledonia, is still sunning herself in Spain. Mike has the latest:
The data again reported her being on the Rio Guadalquivir most of the time but she did make two trips to the De Gergal reservoir at 13.00 hours on each of 21st and 26th June. This is the same reservoir she visited last week.