DAILY UPDATE ~ Loch Garten nest ~ Monday, 22 May 2017

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

  • Some difficult discussions are being raised on this thread  - and I think they do need to be discussed. Other than the intervention question, what does worry me and I think can pose a real problem in time to come, is that where "pockets" of osprey breeding are successful, there will be an increase of ospreys in these areas leading to problems that we have seen played out in the last few days here as well as other favoured nest sites. There have been too many intruder ospreys but not enough nests. Also it has been referred to the fact that there may be over competition at fishing sites. What do we do when the very specific areas suitable for ospreys are saturated? Unfortunately us humans have made such a mess of our landscape there aren't many alternative suitable places left.

  • Me again, heading north. I had a quick look before we left and was gutted to see the empty nest. But now, on my phone I had to hold back the tears, with and unsympathetic OH beside me, when I saw the pics of EJ, back on the nest with a fish. Others have expressed very well what I am feeling. At least we are confident EJ will be fine, but I live in hope Odin will return,.

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • EJ alarm calling, looking up and spreading wings

  • Now flown - camera changed to tree

    Good to see her eating

  • Hello. Hope everyone is doing as well as can be this morning. I have read all the posts both here and on Facebook this morning. I am torn over many aspects of this situation but probably the biggest issue for me is with RSPB and not the team at LG who simply have to follow company policy. I could not expect them to breach company policy and risk their jobs and livelihoods to climb a 60ft ladder everyday. They would have done it once and the hq would ha e removed them from their roles by this morning. I also, as a caring human wanted the chicks to be saved but why...because I could deal with it better. In feeding these chicks every day for the next 30-40 days causing EJ and them upset together with the upset of intruders that she will also have to endure would have served no health benefits to her but I would have felt better and that for me is the wrong way to think. So this is where I have the problem with RSPB and non intervention. I believe they intervene merrily when it suits them. Particularly with ringing, sat packs, red kite feeding etc etc. It has to become a blanket stance if as I have said many times you continue to ask for donations for various projects at LG but then stand back against popular opinion and beam chicks starving to death and claim it has nothing to do with you. My problem is as stated that intervention would have been most traumatic for EJ. Perhaps maybe the language in the blog was not quite right whilst I agree with them maybe saying that the disturbance and upset to EJ as an excuse was wrong as had this not happened then we would have quite happily upset EJ and Odin to climb up and ring the chicks. What I do know is that the whole situation has sickened me together with the arguing parties supposedly helping osprey conservation in Wales this year and I will not be watching any of the webcams for the rest of the season nor will I visit LG. In reality feeding the chicks wouldnt in all likelihood have worked but it is not I that has to live with the consequences of the decision, if Odin appears today or tomorrow I am glad that it will not be me saying  "what if we had just tried", I think the correct decision was made but that doesn't make it any easier on the human emotions.

    Some of you have my details and I am sure I will keep in touch to see how the rest of the season pans out