Osprey Q & A

This thread is a total experiment! I thought of it because a few nights ago, a lot of of useful information about ospreys was being posted in the LG Diary comments, but because of the blog format, it will be out of sight once a new blog is posted, and easily forgotten.       

The idea for this thread:

·         To provide a place for people to ask questions about ospreys at Loch Garten, or ospreys in general, which members of the Forum will answer to the best of their ability. NB Questions directed to the team at Loch Garten, should still be posted in the Comments area of the Loch Garten Osprey Diary.

·         To preserve the answers for future reference

Asking Questions

For clarity, please only ask one question at a time.

Replying to Questions

Try to be specific, giving links to the relevant information where possible, or quote your sources. If you are giving your own opinions, recollections or theories, please make that clear.

If the question you are answering is not the last post in the thread, please use the Quote facility to include the question in your answer.     

General

To make it easier to search for the topic in the future, use the Tags field. For example, if your question is “Is Odin really Scandinavian?” enter “Odin” in Tags.

  • Thank you all and this really does interest me.  I would love to know the answer and I think no matter what this is maybe is out of the ordinary.

  • Another 'Q' not been discussed, answered in a long time..

    Why is the Fish Head removed, when Fish brought to the Nest, before and after hatching??

    I wonder why the occasional one arrives with Head intact?

    P.S ( Am missing my morning LOTL web cam Fix CHOL:) so have time to peruse /digest ,other threads)

  • SK2 I think that there are lots of theories about that but no definite answers.

    One theory is that the head is the most nutritious part of the fish and so the male eats that to keep his strength up.

    It has also been suggested that he eats it to make sure it is dead and not a danger to the chicks.

    As no osprey has ever told us why it remains speculation.

  • Hazel b said:
    As no osprey has ever told us why it remains speculation.

    CHOL:): well that is very remiss and un grateful by the 'Osprey' after all we doo worrying and watching them through their life cycle .....

    I did read the different theories elsewhere, but wondered  if any conclusive evidence had come to light.

    ( and also to keep this thread bumped as again a lot of good info....)

    Thank you.

  • SunnyKate2 said:
    ( and also to keep this thread bumped as again a lot of good info....)

    Definitely a good idea.

  • I wonder if at least some of the fish delivered intact are simply an indication that dad scoffed the whole of the last one himself ;-)

  • I have a question and Ospreys are fascinating.  You have the carry on at Dunrovin when Ozz pulls Harriet off the eggs and chicks with her wing and quite rough, unbelievable to see but always makes you smile. You have Stan at Hellgate feeding Harriet. I hope eggs hatch soon. "Five eggs" ? has any Osprey laid 5 eggs that we know before ?

    Lady not letting a male near her chick. EJ a naughty lady seems she likes the bad boys and some of us like life on the wild side, so can identify with EJ lol. Monty a supertrooper and fed all the hangers on lol.

    How can you not get bored and I have not read "Life of Ospreys" I expect it needs re-writing :)

  • Probably no answer and see both sides.

    My thoughts this year, so many Ospreys have been identified from rings and so many a lot of years later and one from LG and so sad found dead. How exciting this year has been and people cannot deny. Please what have we learnt from tagging youngsters and it is so exciting when a ringed Osprey turns up.  I do understand both sides but surely this year all the evidence points against tagging. Caledonia and YA are doing ok and hope and sure they will be back next yr. Rothiemurchus is doing fine.  Too many tagged lost and Roy Dennis lost all four this year again and moved to tagging Adult Males this year? There is no way you can make a comparison as Ospreys are turning up thought to be missing that are ringed.  With tagging you know they are dead.  Joe Blue 90 perished after is tour of Ireland in Africa but his sister has turned up at Dyfi as a 2yr old.  I say we cannot prove these trackers are ok or bad and to me the evidence says they are not good and only my opinion.

    Only my opinion and hope I can be convinced but do not think I will be and maybe one day change my mind :(

  • BUMP!

    Unknown said:
    You have Stan at Hellgate feeding Harriet. I hope eggs hatch soon. "Five eggs" ? has any Osprey laid 5 eggs that we know before ?

    Interesting....