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

  • Hi all

    Checking in once more from my little hostel in Colombia!

    What a rollercoaster of emotions. I feel so relieved seeing EJ with her fish and able to come and go again, and so very sad that all her efforts this year, returning from her wintering grounds, building up the nest, incubating and brooding have been in vain. Especially because she is getting on years and may not have many more breeding seasons left, it feels a little more tragic to me.

    thank you to Scylla, moffer, birdie, cc. Lmac. Chris, Mike and all the many I haven't mentioned but appreciate so much for all your vigilance and recording of the events at LG. 

    On the subject of intervention I have to say I have personally been very conflicted. It did seem to me at the outset that maybe just one or two "holding" Deliveries whilst waiting to see if Odin returned might have been worth trying, but I do also agree with LG that they couldn't have kept interfering with the nest several times a week ongoing until EJ felt it safe to fish herself. I think there is also probably a much bigger risk in attempting any approach to the nest when the chicks are so small, compared to when they are at ringing age - possibly more traumatic for EJ as well as opening up possibility a crow mighht get to the nest first etc. Whatever my personal and amateurish thoughts, however, the LG team have my total support and must be feeling devastated.

    EJ is a most resilient bird, she has come through really tough times before and will again now. Hearing about GreenJ setting up nest with a new young male at the age of 25 last year gives me hope for EJ too.

    best wishes to you all! 

    Chocoholix shiny new 2018 Interactive Osprey & Chick Chart! (with clickable links!)

  • Just heard EJ's alarm calls - do so wish she could just rest up to recover from her prolonged stay on the nest without food.

    It looked an effort for her to flap her wings :-(

  • Now I have the utmost respect and admiration for the LG staff who Like myself and everyone else on here have been thru the ringer emotion wise. I Started with joy and jubilation when the pair returned and mated to major disappointment and now anger. I am furious the RSPB would not intervene but like has been said before they will on their terms when ringing and sat tag fitting. While I am on the subject does anyone know how many of EJ ringed or sat tagged offspring have returned to these shores?. I am certainly one of a number of people who believe intervention should have happened even in the short term hopefully enabling Odin to return. This would have given the chicks a chance instead of being condemned by lack of action. This is the same organisation that had a Red Squirrel plastered all over their publicity shots last year and not doing a thing about the grey threat on the reserves. This is another reason why I will not join the RSPB. I am touring Scotland in July and was planning on visiting LG but I don't think I could bring myself to. At the end of the Day LG has a man made nest which has a webcam and is maintained during the winter. This will no doubt bring people to the reserve. They have ringed and sat tagged the osplets but won't help chicks in trouble. Well I am sorry but that just doesn't sit right. They have helped create this and have profited from it so in my opinion they have a duty of care to the very species that brings them funds. I understand that some wont agree and I do understand and respect their opinion but I could no longer keep my mouth shut on this one.

    If anyone is in the Vicinity of LG Take the staff a Massive cake as a pick me up cos they deserve it.

    Regards.........

  • Good to see EJ back eating her fish on the tree :-)

    Edit:: Lovely set of photos of EJ, Moffer - they appeared as I posted.

  • The thing that touches me most today is her quietness, the lack of chirps, tweets, little noises. She hasnt truely lost her voice (due to dehydration or such), she does alarm call when needed. But there is a huge silence about her, somehow.

    Very beautifull captures Moffer. And I am so glad to see you about. ((hugs))

    2016: first time in history an Osprey nested in the NL. 2018: 2 active nests! 2019 a storm interferes. 2020: a third active nest in a tree!