(I am having enormous difficulty posting.)
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Foremost in our thoughts and hearts today is the status of Odin, who has been missing since before 08:00 on Tuesday morning. He was last seen taking off from the nest in pursuit of one of two male intruders, either OC (Orange Chest) or BTO (Odin lookalike, for the BTO ring on his left leg).
This is our last look at him, seconds before he flew:
(I need some help with the IDs of the 3 intruders, please correct me and I'll edit accordingly.)
All the while that we desperately worry about unseen Odin, his partner EJ is suffering before our eyes - and yesterday TWO intruders became THREE! We now have OC, BTO or OL (for Odin Lookalike), and Darvic (for the blue Darvic ring on his left leg - let's hope that the Centre can read it).
EJ has not eaten since the large, headless fish provided by Odin early on Tuesday, which she ate in instalments thru the day.
Yesterday evening OC and Darvic both intruded on EJ, sometimes overlapping with each other, and OC landed briefly on EJ's back (thank you, BIRDIE).
We hope and pray that Odin is nursing himself back to fitness and will be back today to tell these intruders where to go (Hell, for instance). But even if he returns in full health, what a difficult time is in store for him.
Besides the personal investment we have in our Gorgeous, Magnificent Odin, the implications for the nest and its osprey family don't bear thinking about - and we are only too conscious of the effect all this is having on the personnel at the Loch Garten Visitor Centre... not forgetting the prosperity of the 2015 season?
Finally - if only we could fathom why, suddenly this season, these male ospreys - three of them, no less - have chosen to invade Loch Garten!
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Please forgive the possibly de trop frames, I find it so therapeutic to concentrate on and agonise over doing them ;-)
IMAGICAT
Yes I think quieter but she must be coming to the end of her tether. Just how much longer can she hang on. She needs to have some strength should she have to go fishing for herself .. she cannot rely on these males providing.
A few minutes ago I was watching her and I can see her nodding off ... I just feel for her
I agree Karen. EJ can't last much longer like this. She must be so thirsty.
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
Interesting report on the Dunrovin FB page, link provided for those who can access it, written 22 hours ago. It seems a similar situation is occurring there:
Dunrovin Birds
It is increasingly hard to image a happy ending for the 2015 osprey breeding season at Dunrovin. Harriet has two eggs that she fiercely defends, yet no mate is present and she has not eaten since May 4th. She briefly leaves the eggs unattended, but returns too soon to have gone fishing. Unless a new mate shows up with a fish within the next couple of days, kicks these two eggs out, and they start over as a couple, it is almost certain that 2015 will be an unsuccessful year. Let's just hope that Harriet survives the ordeal and returns next year to try again.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Are ospreys becoming a victim of their own successful breeding and protection or just too many that don't want to build their own nests
Thanks SHEILA. Very similar circumstances. I am sure this happens so many times in a season but, obviously, we would prefer that it wasn't here.
I suspect it is the latter LMAC. It's much easier to take over a nicely prepared nest, in a good fishing location, than have to faff around building a new one and then find a mate. Just a though.
Very Interesting Sheila, thanks for that report.
I too think they may be a victim of their own success Lmac. Thank you for asking the question on the blog. I thought that we mat get a comment update today, but no :(
Harriet got fish very quickly from somewhere yesterday.
I also think that this years bad weather for migration may have played a part in these sagas. Only the strong birds returned and most were late. Could it be that they are desperate to mate, and time is running out so the male birds in situ are being overthrown out of desperation?
Alarm calling.