I understand that it was a quiet day on the nest on Sunday. Odin continued to pester EJ for sex while she continued to sit on the single egg which almost certainly will not hatch.
There only five more egg laying days in the 2015 season. It looks as if there are not going to be any chicks at Loch Garten in 2015.
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moffer said:Morning OSM. That's a very sobering thought at this time of the morning :(
Here's what's going through my head as I watch EJ calling from the nest, refusing to budge ...
For the last week I have been willing EJ to give up incubating this egg, convinced it could not possibly hatch after the various kickings it has taken and 3 days on the side of the nest. I can't believe it is still viable.
However, with the egg re-laying window closing, and the original date for this egg to hatch now getting close (25-29 May? depending on which egg it is?), my feelings are now getting a bit mixed...
What if EJ is right, and we're all wrong?
Is it worth her sitting it out for another week or so, just to see... ?
Chocoholix shiny new 2018 Interactive Osprey & Chick Chart! (with clickable links!)
I don't think anyone on this forum can say one way or another what is going to happen. I think we just watch patiently and learn. No point throwing in unwanted grenades at this moment. If EJ and odin stay around we still have 3 months to watch this scenario play out.
Oldshoremore said: Morning everybody - thanks for all updates so far. Rather a depressing start to the day, what with the damp weather and no fish. Have read through the very interesting discussion last night on osprey numbers and lack of, and/or, provision of further nests, the discussion being instigated by Wendyb's astute observation, quoted here:- "Trying and everyone else I worry about next year as these youngsters will be a year older in their development... The incumbents will be a year older and the new boys and girls have that nest earmarked...just a thought". (copyright Wendyb) Wendy, I hadn't thought of that. It's probably really not a good idea to become as familiar with, and attached to, one particular pair of breeding ospreys as many of us on here are. What you predict is bound to happen sooner or later. So perhaps we should just enjoy the privilege of watching the long-standing partnership of this magnificent pair while we can.
Morning everybody - thanks for all updates so far. Rather a depressing start to the day, what with the damp weather and no fish.
Have read through the very interesting discussion last night on osprey numbers and lack of, and/or, provision of further nests, the discussion being instigated by Wendyb's astute observation, quoted here:-
"Trying and everyone else I worry about next year as these youngsters will be a year older in their development... The incumbents will be a year older and the new boys and girls have that nest earmarked...just a thought". (copyright Wendyb)
Wendy, I hadn't thought of that. It's probably really not a good idea to become as familiar with, and attached to, one particular pair of breeding ospreys as many of us on here are.
What you predict is bound to happen sooner or later. So perhaps we should just enjoy the privilege of watching the long-standing partnership of this magnificent pair while we can.
I remember discussing this exact topic with Roy Dennis just over 10 years ago. The number of nests in Strathspey has 'plateaud' at about 12. As many ecologists will know there does come a time when an area reached carrying capacity - it will not sustain any more nests. The limiting factors could include prey, suitable nest sites or an individual's intolerance to a neighbour nesting close by. Whatever the reason this seems to have happened over a decade ago. Roy's view, from memory, was that Ospreys nest in 'loose colonies' and they are extremely reluctant to start a new colony. He believed that translocation was an underused tool and the provision of artificial nests followed by birds being translocated and released at the site of the new potential colonies was the way forward. Making artificial nests within existing colonies may only increase the number of intruding Ospreys at a nest if defence of territory was the limiting factor, and would not assist if the limiting factor was prey. 10 years is a long time and he may well have changed his opinion or modified it, but he certainly argued his case well back then.
Some people think Ospreys are a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.
Very interesting CRinger - thanks for sharing your thoughts and Roy Dennis' previous arguments on this subject
I believe that two years ago was a very good osprey hatching and fledging season and as the results of that year are now on their first year back or attempting to return I think this also adds to the number of homeless ospreys that we are seeing intrude not only at EJ and Odin but at other nests also. Easier to take a nest than build/repair your own.
Good morning, all. EJ is really shouting her head off, though if she had nothing to eat yesterday that's not surprising.
If that egg hatches it will probably be the most extraordinary event of this season!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Background to translocations
and Osprey Conservation and Translocation Projects
Translocation to Urdaibai going on right now.
The translocation to Andalucia went fantastically well. About 18 nests now.
Clare Bailey said: If that egg hatches it will probably be the most extraordinary event of this season!
Morning - It really would Clare! And who would have predicted that chick Miracle at Alcoa last year?
I still struggle to think this egg could still be viable, but we've learnt over the years that the osprey world is full of surprises, which is why we all keep watching and waiting with EJ I guess!
Very interesting post, CRinger (the more I visit this forum, the more I learn!). Obviously a very finely balanced equation, with many factors, between ospreys and nests.