Odin not seen since 18 May 2017 early afternoon --- 3 days. We have one chick left, no fish deliveries, and an unringed male hanging about the nest. I am personally moved by the greatest forum participants I have ever seen. Many opinions expressed with no personal rancor in the disagreements. I believe all are opening their hearts and minds in a fervent unified wish for the best for EJ. As one forum poster said, "If only EJ knew how many are thinking of her." I am back in town and stricken to see all the news, yet so very honored to be in the company of such courageous nature watchers. Thank you all.
At this moment EJ is sleeping on a mercifully quiet nest with a light wind but no precipitation. May she have peaceful dreams that come true for her.© RSPB - Loch Garten and Carnyx Wild
Imagicat || Tiger's links || 2022 LG Obs
She's silently flown
Back to the fish perch
Birdie Num Num's brilliant DU summary 2017
Back again!
I'm off - SYAL :)
IMAGICAT
I don't normally post but have been regularly glued to the screen/site for years.
What a sad story. EJ will be devastated but she has survived
A hard time for everyone..
I'm not trying to raise hopes.
BUT
Are we absolutely certain that the osprey on the nest at 8.04 ( see Scylla's picture) isn't Odin?
I watched the bird land and it behaved like Odin, seemed 'concerned' at the empty nest cup and seemed 'at home' on the nest.
Also, it had Odin's graceful build -
Long legs, high crotch, delicate crossing tail feathers, the same side brown colouring on the neck and the distinctive 'V' pattern on his head.
Hi Margaret. No it wasn't Odin, sadly. I only wish it were. It was the same intruder as yesterday, pictured in the cam tree and on the nest with EJ.
The last few days have been tough viewing. Am so sad at what has happened, both for these beautiful birds and their offspring this season, but also for LG staff and volunteers whose main aim is to conserve and protect these birds. It just goes to show how fragile nature can be at times - only one thing needs to go wrong and it can have devasting consequences. What gives me hope and makes me glad is that bit by bit in certain areas of the UK ospreys are doing well. EJ and Odin have made their contribution to this osprey population.
Hi all. Just looked in on the nest and EJ was at the back with no sign of life now. Sad but unfortunately nature has had a hand in it. I don't suppose we'll ever know what happened to Odin as he wasn't a ringed osprey.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
I've been following you awll on here for a while now and have been wanting to write but I've been so heartbroken. I first visited Loch Garten in 2004 and have loved watching EJ over years and our magnificent boy Odin. Thank you all for your updated over the past few days, although I've been in tears most of the time it's been lovely to know that I haven't been alone in my grief. Although it's very sad to see the last chick fade, it is a joy to see EJ with a fish this morning. I hope that EJ gets her strength and mindset together and she'll be back next year to try again, if not with Odin with another mate. I haven't given up on Odin ... a part of me never will. I believe none of us will, but if we never see him again I'm sure you'll agree, we'll NEVER forget him (oh dear I'm crying again). Lets have a big virtual hug xx
I am a 62 year old man and this weekends tragedy has turned me into a blubbering wreck. Far from being a comfort, the forum, and especially the webcam, have been a source of torture and anguish, but of course I couldn't stop looking.
You are good people and I'm absolutely not being critical of anyone, but for me, sharing in this nightmare hasn't helped. Each time I logged in, desperately hoping something nice had happened, it was just another punch - another twist of the knife. Chicks gaping, EJ waiting, and upset and desperate posters on the forum. All hugely distressing leading to the horrible conclusion stretched cruelly out over many days.
I can understand the decision not to intervene, but I absolutely disagree with it. Supposing Odin returned now with a fish? It's not inconceivable - he took 5 days last time. We'd all be a tad miffed that the family had been destroyed for the sake of a trip to Tesco. And if the nest pillar started to collapse after a gale, would the LG staff not try to support it or is that nature too? And aren't we part of nature? We intervene by shooting and trapping birds to meet the worst sides of our character, but can do nothing when it comes to positive things like compassion and sentimentality. Finally, what harm would it really have done in this instance? The timing of the intruding birds could not have been worse, and in such an instance the centre should have tried to help. If they were 2 new Ospreys learning the ropes, I would have understood it better but these 2 much loved old stagers needed a hand, and we did nothing. I believe we let them down giving ourselves day after day of tears and upset in the process.
My opinion. Respect to anyone who disagrees.
This is EJ at present, still looking for Odin.