Osprey Q & A

Thanks B&B.  Poor EJ must be so cold and wet.  There must be a point, when things get really bad, that self preservation takes over and they have to abandon nests.  I've seen it with garden birds and just thought someone may have an instance documented.

Pam there is a difference EJ is sitting tight and is very experienced and yes the nest at Aberfoyle was abanndoned and it has to be down to inexperineced birds and the weather. The winds were bad and my thoughts a big branch on the nest and the female looking an occasionally touching the eggs and they were abandoned.

Your question is a very good one. Yes it did happen and if no-one as any comments then you only have mine :)

Condtions and winds were extreme last year and a lot of nests failed.

I am no expert but I am the only person to reply and hope you enjoy watching :)

Good question :)

pam j said:

Thanks B&B.  Poor EJ must be so cold and wet.  There must be a point, when things get really bad, that self preservation takes over and they have to abandon nests.  I've seen it with garden birds and just thought someone may have an instance documented.

Well when it comes to heroic resistance I althink of Belle the Bald Eagle from West Virginia on February 10th 2010. I recalled her  plight some time ago. See Belle  (yes there is an eagle sitting on eggs in there)      and if you want to ready the whole story  it is   here       

So what do you think?   

Good grief TIGER, What a tenacious bird!   I read through the story and I'm so pleased they managed to raise one chick after all they had been through.  Isn't nature a wonderful thing.

pam j said:

Good grief TIGER, What a tenacious bird!   I read through the story and I'm so pleased they managed to raise one chick after all they had been through.  Isn't nature a wonderful thing.

I am glad you read it through. A real inspiration.

I would like to know whether the male or female (or both together)  builds the nest & is it possible that a single bird would build a nest one year for nesting the following year, perhaps hoping to attract a mate with their nest-building skills?

Hazel C said:

I would like to know whether the male or female (or both together)  builds the nest & is it possible that a single bird would build a nest one year for nesting the following year, perhaps hoping to attract a mate with their nest-building skills?

 

That's a very interesting question, Noisette, and not an easy one to answer. It depends very much on the situation that the birds are in. For example a pair that return to find their nest damaged will both help in repairing it so it can be used that year. Similarly, a pair whose nest fails in a particular year will often build a frustration nest towards the end of the season, which might be used the following year.

The situation regarding younger birds is less clear. Building a nest from scratch is quite an undertaking, which is why so many young birds intrude at existing nest sites hoping to take over. Young males do build their own nests, from which they hope to attract passing females. It is unlikely that they manage to do this in time to raise a family in that year. As far as I am aware, young females don't build nests of their own but tour round hoping to find unattached males who've already started one. They will then both contribute in building up the nest in readiness for the following year.  

The reason I asked was because last week we met somebody who works at the fish farm near Port Maubert & lives localy too. He reported seeing (in December 2011) a large flat platform type nest in a dead ash tree in the woods where the Ospreys are often seen. We met up later & followed him to the place, but sadly the tree has been cut down as part of a clearance of part of the woods. There appears to be nothing left apart from a stack of wood. We are unable to verify that it was built by the Ospreys but it seems likely. The satellite points of Rothes don't correspond to the nest position so our theory is that the other Osprey we saw last year may have built it in preparation for this years nesting. This could explain why an Osprey seen for 2 days at the start of April 2012 was 'calling' in a distressed fashion. (All that hard work for nothing!)

If we go back to the site, are there any signs (apart from feathers) that may indicate the presence of Ospreys, what sort of wood do they use? What length? What do they line it with?

In terms of the nest have a look at www.zen88810.zen.co.uk/.../Breeding.htm this from the 'old' Rutland site. I would say that is fairly typical and there have been reports of the older ie: long established nests reaching a massive size as they are added to each year. The lining seems to be often grass, moss or similar no doubt depending on the 'local' availability.

Noisette ~ That is so sad... It is such a shame that who ever was responsible didn't consider these birds and the time and effort they put into breeding, it may take another year or two to get back to the stage they were at, and that is if they survive another year. I'm no expert in where they might build nests but it is well documented that Ospreys like to build in tall dead trees or quite often on dangerous power towers/pylons, usually the latter ones are re-homed onto a nearby man made platform, that is if the power company care enough or the land owners etc. I hope my limited knowledge helps in some way. :) Also Thanks again for your care and concern for Rothes and I still hope to hear good news soon.