We will not now be ringing, tagging and therefore tracking the osprey chicks at Loch Garten this year. This will come as an enormous disappointment to many - not least of all us here. You've been patiently watching and waiting for news on this, but events & circumstances have conspired against us this past week, confounding our attempts to do this. Let me explain.
Ringing ospreys can take place at approx. 4 weeks after hatching, by which time the growth in legs and feet is complete enabling rings to be fitted safely without further growth that could constrict the ring on the leg. At this time, their flight feathers are barely showing through, so they are going no-where and are effectively captive in the nest. For attaching satellite tracking tags, the chicks need to be more developed, much bigger and robust in order to take a tag. This takes place at nearer 6 weeks, a time that is all the closer to fledging.
The satellite tags arrived from USA on Friday 2nd July, a little later than hoped, but still within time to deploy. However no sooner had they arrived, than began what proved to be an entire week of unseasonally windy weather. A windy day in July, sure, but an entire week of such conditions was very unusual. We were primed to go to the nest on each day, but thwarted by the very windy conditions. You will have seen the trees swaying about on the webcam, and how windy it was at nest level. This prompts the osprey chicks to take advantage of this and spend time flapping vigorously, to develop the flight muscles in their chests & wings, to get used to the sensation of lift and to develop balance, all for the big build-up to them taking their maiden flight.
The wind is a serious consideration for us when making a nest visit. As explained in an early blog comment, we have to consider our own safety when erecting the ladder and that of the chicks, more on that in a moment. As regards the ladder, it is a particulalrly long ladder, not your run-of-the-mill type, and it needs to be fully extended in order to reach the nest. When we are putting it up, it has a lot of weight at height and it is a tricky manoeuvre at the best of times. Very windy conditions make this procedure all the more difficult, posing risks for not just us, but also the nest & contents if we were to lose control of the ladder.
As regards the chicks, at the time when we need to attach tags, because the birds are getting close to fledging, timing is absolutely key in order to minimise risks of what might lead to what we term "a leaper". This is when a young bird might be tempted to take a premature attempt at a first flight, if/when spooked at the nest. The likelihood of this though quite slim, is increased in windy conditions when they perhaps feel emboldened by the breezy conditions, giving them that all important lift that just might precipitate a jump overboard, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Each morning and evening this past week I assessed conditions and made a judgement-call on whether it was safe to go, but the relentless wind, stronger than I have ever known at ringing time prevented us from doing so. As each day passed the chicks were continuing to get stronger, were spending all the more time flapping and jumping as you will have seen, and their flight feathers were no-doubt continuing to push through by the hour, growing inexorably in readiness for fledging, this growth fuelled by Odin's proficiency at providing fish for his family. Some of you have remarked on the blog how much bigger & advanced you felt this brood were, compared to last year and I think you've been right. Roy Dennis, with whom I have been consulting daily about this situation, when looking for an opportunity to proceed, was himself very surprised at how well-on they were, despite having hatched at approx. the same time last year.
Early on Thursday evening, we again were primed to go ahead. The wind had eased a little bit at least and the forecast was for a further drop. Eventually at 9pm it had all but ceased and we prepared oursleves. Part of our thinking here was that the chicks were likely to be at their heaviest, from all the day's feeds, therfore more replete, lethargic and less inclined to leap. The birds though, were still very active, jumping up and down and flapping strongly. Though Roy has been working with ospreys for ever, seeing how frisky they were, even he was tense and cautious. As a test, I set out towards the tree as Roy watched the camera monitors to see how the chicks behaved. EJ was perched in the dead tree adjacent to the nest, (Odin was absent), and as soon as she caught sight of me she began to alarm call as expected. You may have seen or heard this if you were watching. We couldn't pre-warn you, as all this was spontaneous. Whilst two chicks duly responded by instantly flopping, the third seemed less fazed and remained that bit more alert which concerned us. It is the alarm calling of the female osprey that warns the chicks and keeps them down, but we know from previous seasons that EJ isn't the most vocal osprey - they do vary. Yes she can nag Odin incessantly when food is required, but at previous ringings with her over the years, we have noticed that whilst she of course alarms initially and for the first wee while, we have known her to back off, circle high-up and tend to go quiet. There was added concern therefore that without continuingly alarming to her brood, they just might perk up, get curious and be less docile for handling. Roy called me back, he was not happy with what he had seen. Despite improved weather conditions, it was off. Just too risky. The days of waiting for the wind to abate had now virtually closed our window of opportunity. Another consideration for us, was that as it was by now after 9pm, if, heaven forbid a chick did leap from the nest and glided off somwhere into thicket woodland or such, we had much less time before darkness to search for it.
In further discussion with Roy, we felt we had one or two potential opportunities left. The forecast for yesterday (Friday) was for prolonged heavy rain. Now, we wouldn't normally contemplate ringing/tagging in such conditions, it's just not very pleasant for either us or the chicks. But under the circumstances and with that window rapidly closing, we felt that if the chicks were completely sodden, then they were much, much less likely to leap. At 11.30am the heavens opened and down it came in fits & starts for the next three hours. It was looking good, the chicks were quite wet and looking very disconsolate. However by 3pm the rain had stopped, a drying breeze had picked up, and even the sun came out too, warming and drying the chicks who were soon back on their feet again, practicing for fledging. Bah!
The window was now virtually closed. The one last opportunity was that if, and only if we had the very heavy overnight rain that was forecast for some areas, then we would go in the morning, today. Last evening was one of the best this week and it looked set fair! I woke at 6am today to literally take a rain-check. It was completely dry. I phoned Roy at 8am to draw a line. If it pours today or tomorrow will we go? No. As every hour passes, the likelihood of even that ploy dinimishes. Very sorry, but there will be no ringing and tagging at Loch Garten this year. I trust you can understand my decision. It's for the best.
You have been awaitng ringing and clamouring to know whether the chicks are males or females, which we determine at ringing time by their weights and foot-size and we'll now not know for sure, but one final thought from Roy, which may have compounded the situation, is that he wonders whether all three might in fact be males, and therefore being smaller, lighter and ready for fledging all the sooner.
Everyone is very disappointed. This is the first time we haven't at least ringed our birds since ringing began back in the 1970s. Ringing is a key milestone in our season and a chance when the seasonal staff team get to meet their charges up close and personal. David and Co and very disappointed on many fronts but no chick pictures for example, as mementos for their hard work this season. They had a team soiree last night that involved a rain-dance seemingly, but to no effect. You too will all be disappointed, no rings, no names, no tagged Garten birds to follow and learn about this winter and beyond. Buy hey, we are still following Rothes from last year, and above all else we have three bouncy, seemingly healthy osprey chicks about to fledge and enter the Scottish population, and that above all else is what it's all about. Thank you.
I would like to thank Roy for his counsel during all this and apologise for running him ragged, back & forth to the Osprey Centre this week in the hope of ringing & tagging!
Richard Thaxton - Site manager-Loch Garten