THE LG OSPREY GABFEST FOR FEBRUARY, 2015

Wendy, thanks for the update on Miss Snowy Owl. That term just came into my head and for no reason at all, I have been referring to him/her as a her.  So I'll just continue to do so, all the while acknowledging that I/we have no knowledge as to which she is.

I Just cannot read the entire post yet, But we have lost Millicent.  New MAIN BLOG

Yes June, so very sad, I just wasn't expecting this :(

I join you in sadness too!  Was such a nasty shock & don't want to guess at when any returnees might arrive ... simply hope that they do!  A very anxious time for all us Ospreyholics!

Hi Wendy, I did finally read the article by Jen and very well-spoken it is.  She gives an excellent review of tagged Loch Garten chicks and also announces some BIG NEWS.

It has been decided that Lock Garten will not tag its chicks this 2015 season and has no plans to do so within the foreseeable future.  

Hi All, Yes, very sad news about Millicent.  It is difficult for us but must be far worse for the LG staff and volunteers.  Fingers crossed for Breagha's safety and that the adults all return safely for the new season.

Re: the Snowy Owl on the Osprey nest at Collins Marsh, Wisconsin--I thought it was a female since females have those beautiful dark splotches and males have more white.  However, I hope the experts will let us know--do first year males and females look alike or do they take on adult plumage for their first winter?

I agree JS that the article was as eloquent & informative as expected which was no mean feat given the extremely shocking news to be imparted!  In many ways, both financially & emotionally, calling a halt to further tagging will be easier to deal with but ... & it's a fairly big but ... I hope that it does not have a detrimental impact on our Osprey loving posters in the community, as much interest is generated via following tagged Osps during the 'off' season!  It's quite a long dreary winter to get through & news of tagged Osps progress & anticipation of their return keeps peeps involved ... I just hope that not too many will lose interest & contact with each other!  I am not the most prolific commenter on Osprey threads but I follow avidly all cams & others' comments!  During the winter months I am quite happily involved in watching all & any Eagle/Owl/Peregrine cams!  We are presented with an impressive selection of sites in a great many countries & reasonably cheap technology to be able to view ... I have approx 28 pinned tabs on my google homepage which pop up every day, how spoilt am I?   My biggest problem currently is how on earth do I fit in the housework?? Lol

Wendy, Housework?  What's that?!

Unknown said:

we have lost Millicent.  New MAIN BLOG

Heartbreaking. As it is always, even knowing the survival rates for juvenile osprey are so low. LG also announced in this post they are stopping the tagging program. I don't blame them. It is very expensive, much has been learned up to now, and the money can be better spent elsewhere. While it deprives us of the excitement of sharing their migration, it also spares us the story of loss.