It falls to me to start the new thread as we watch and wait with EJ.
Right now she is fast asleep, head under her wing, in all the glory of fuzzy cam
It's now more than two days since she last had a fish from Odin. Yesterday he paid two very brief visits, but arrived empty taloned both times. Why is he not fishing for his mate? We simply do not know.
And still EJ remains magnificently dedicated to her one remaining egg, and has so far resisted going fishing for herself. A zoom yesterday did not reveal obvious damage, but surely previous kicking and three days on the rim of the nest will have taken its toll? Is it trauma that is keeping her brooding, or simply habit? Or is there still a tiny chance something has survived against all the odds? We simply do not know.
All we can do is watch and wait. And so we do. On with another day fellow Ospreyholics!
Chocoholix shiny new 2018 Interactive Osprey & Chick Chart! (with clickable links!)
Good morning all, and many thanks for all reports pics etc so far - at least we have some good fishy news, even if the portion was nouvelle cuisine rather than whale size - thank goodness EJ has finally broken her fast. The partnership is still being reinforced - good to see, even if things are nothing like normal.
Some thoughts after yesterday's fraught viewing.
Lmac commented that Odin had obviously eaten satisfactorily on Saturday, because of his poops. And it's been surmised on here from time to time (because of the nature of EJ's cries) that Odin has been feeding himself nearby without offering her any.
I suppose, when you think about it if, for whatever reason, Odin has been catching fewer fish than normal, his first priority HAS to be to feed himself and get his energy levels to a certain level, otherwise he won't have the strength either to fish for EJ, or to defend the nest. EJ, who has maternal instincts as strong as any living creature I've ever been encountered (including humans) is obviously deeply unhappy about this.
Odin must also be in hormonal/emotional limbo, as he is demonstrating neither of the 2 behaviours that would be expected towards the egg - neither incubating when EJ leaves, nor kicking it out.
Well, let's see what today brings.
Good morning Lmac. Why do you think Odin is ignoring the egg? He looks at it, but leaves it alone.
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
Although Odin brought in a fish unfortunatly he didn't stay on the nest. Hopefully EJ will soon realise that the egg in unviable and start fishing for herself. I know they are not human so their thought process we can't understand but since Odin returned he just doesn't seem to be the same attentive partner as before.
I think as yesterday's comment that the cycle has been broken for Odin. I don't think he realises where the egg came from but returned from 6 days of absence to find another male and an egg or perhaps he is aware the egg will not hatch. I do not believe there is anything wrong with Odins health but I do think he would like ej off the egg. Just from my own observations of this pair over the years the egg is the problem and I don't think Odins health since he returned has any effect as I think he is just fine. He would never have been able to battle for 6 days plus if his health was in doubt.
You know, I dread to think what would happen IF the egg hatched. I wish Odin would just kick it out and be done with it.
margaret T said: Although Odin brought in a fish unfortunatly he didn't stay on the nest. Hopefully EJ will soon realise that the egg in unviable and start fishing for herself. I know they are not human so their thought process we can't understand but since Odin returned he just doesn't seem to be the same attentive partner as before.
Yes the Loch Garten nest does seem a less contented place during May. However it has had its bad times before and recovered.
This nest has seen a lot since 1959.
Tiger Signature
chocoholix said:I wonder if the heroic splodgologists can work out from the zoom yesterday, which might be the egg that EJ is still incubating? Just a thought :)
I have not actually done that but it should be fairly easy.
I think Moffer may have an opinion.
Catching up with events and it seems much the same. Thanks for all updates , pics, etc.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Hazel b said: I wonder if the heroic splodgologists can work out from the zoom yesterday, which might be the egg that EJ is still incubating? Just a thought :) I have not actually done that but it should be fairly easy. I think Moffer may have an opinion. [/quote]I think that it may be egg 2 but I could well be wrong Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
I wonder if the heroic splodgologists can work out from the zoom yesterday, which might be the egg that EJ is still incubating? Just a thought :)
[/quote]I think that it may be egg 2 but I could well be wrong
EJ just took a short flight (In which my VLC froze up) She was calling to Odin to come to the nest and take over, but it fell on deaf ears.