Yesterday we got the amazing news that Seasca was missing in action presumed dead. Now she may well be but I find myself really very puzzled by it all as the more I think about it the less convinced I am that the evidence shows this.
At the second last update I had no worries whatsoever. A well fed juvenile osprey on her first migration what could go wrong. Well unfortunately lots can often go wrong but there are usually clues as to the reason.
If I had one concern it was that she was losing out in the fish war on the nest. However Mallachie in 2009 was losing out in the fish war and she got to Africa no trouble.
In times like this people are usually only too willing to blame the tracker. I am very reluctant to blame the tracker but in this case it may well be the only explanation.
Firstly it may be delayed data. We know that can and does happen. So on Thursday the missing data may turn up. Not as unlikely as you might think.
So if no data does turn up then it is time to look to other reasons.
In November 2012 Blue 44 was an incredibly well fed bird heading toward Africa when he simply disappeared without trace. Now that seems the closest parallel with the present case. Again not a hint of an explanation why. Was it a tracker problem or did Blue 44 come to catastrophic harm?
Well that has got this started and see what parallels we can come up with.
Tiger Signature
These discussions always do teach us something.
I never realised that Glen and Moray were so young when they started migrating.
Glen first flew on 8 August 2008 and migrated on 24 August 2008 a mere 16 days later.
Moray migrated on 26th August just three weeks after fledging.
No wonder they were immature.
See Other Ospreys
We thought that Rothes had migrated early.
Hi All, Yes, it looks to be very sad news.
Like Wendy, I feel for you especially, Scylla, since you have devoted so much of your time to following and recording the LG nest and several others as well, for which I am very grateful. Hang in there, Scylla! (This tragedy brings to mind some of my Mum's favourite sayings, 'This, too, shall pass.' and 'In a hundred years it will never matter.' Nothing like platitudes, is there?!)
Unfortunately, we may never know Seasca's full story, but Lalli turned up alive and well when it appeared he was lost, so it may be a faulty tracker after all. We know the odds are stacked against young Ospreys, but some birds survive. Seasca had a good (if possibly a short) life.
Kind regards, Ann
WendyBartter said: Is it the quality of the camera at LG or the lack of enough broadband strength that causes us to receive such a fuzzy pic?
Is it the quality of the camera at LG or the lack of enough broadband strength that causes us to receive such a fuzzy pic?
The quality at LG is superb, WENDY - I believe the problem is that they've tried to fit a quart into a pint pot, figuratively speaking ;-) They installed a new system in April and the crash was immediately apparent. Given the notoriety of LG's appalling broadband, I think they knew that what they were doing would have dire consequences for us.
Your mum's platitudes are very apt, GARDENBIRDER :-)
IMAGICAT
I do remember you mentioning about something different earlier in the year Scylla but not the detail so find myself wondering what was the purpose of introducing a new system??
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Hello {{{ SCYLLA}}}
All EJ and Odin's effort seems worthless now. :'-(
Tiger's Osprey News
noc said:All EJ and Odin's effort seems worthless now.
It does seem like that, but they do their job year after year and the future of their offspring is then up to Nature. It's a cruel shame that they should lose a chick so soon, given the bounty and harmony of this season.
If Seasca did, basically, die of exhaustion, I wonder if she was as well-nourished as we thought she was. On and off I've been rewatching videos and wondering since well before there was a hint of her being lost.
I think if she did become exhausted it was more because she flew so quickly great distances without a proper break.
Hazel b said:See Other Ospreys
That page is a catalogue of misfortune, TIGER :'( All healthy juveniles, all dying so soon... unless any whose tracker was thought to have failed did make it back?
SCYLLA, there seemed to be plenty of fish everyday though.
I wonder why did she leave so early compared to her sisters, why was she in such a hurry? Just instinct I guess?
patily said: I think if she did become exhausted it was more because she flew so quickly great distances without a proper break.
Yes, I'm forgetting that, PATILY, thank you :-* I've been mithering about her fish intake so much that everything else has gone out of my head.