It may be too early to start this thread, and I find it very raw to talk about her, like many more do too, but someone said to me a few weeks ago "I don't think we are going to see EJ again. Please do a fitting tribute to her" .
SO:-
REMEMBERING EJ
I think I can safely say there are many many hearts breaking at the non return of our beautiful EJ. We will never know what happened to her but my heart thinks because of her last two disastrous seasons she has decided to stay in her wintering grounds (experts say no, but do get it wrong sometimes) although my head does tells me differently.
EJ had a harder than most "osprey life", her most settled and companionable years were probably with dear Odin.
She was the most dedicated of mothers, I think she proved that wholeheartedly when covered in snow she would not leave her eggs, then again when only self preservation made her leave the nest during her last two seasons after being almost starved to death. These are the sadder things that we do not really want to remember but they are the things that made EJ an Osprey above ALL OTHERS and the things that made her earn the respect of all Osprey followers.
It has broken my heart to do this video, but she so needs to be remembered.
Please add your own memories of her, when you saw her for the first time, and all that she has meant to you over the years.
I do hope that the nest is occupied soon and that LG continues with many successful seasons, for me personally Loch Garten is EJ, there never will be another like her, she was simply "the best".....
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
Oh Mary, what a fabulous and fitting video for our beautiful girl. I read the post and could hardly look at or even see the video, for the tripping of tears!! My she was one special Osprey. I only came to to know her and Odin the last few years. Was devistated when he never returned. What she has gone through, all the good and the bad the ups and the downs, we have all gone through it with her. The last two years I went to LG to see her in the feather. That was special and I have a few photos, which I will treasure. I never saw Odin, as it was in the July. It was last year that I met up with yourself and we had a fine blether! Like you I want to think that she has hung up her hat and is now having her downtime, somewhere hot and sunny, don't and can't think otherwise. I know the time will come when another pair set up home here at Loch Garten, and in time we will come to love them also, but Loch Garten is our EJ and always will be.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Thank for you that lovely Poem Lindy, 2011 was my first year of following.
I visited Loch Garten in May 2011, and once I seen EJ's head popping over that nest rim through my bino's she had me hook, line and sinker.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Thanks for the poem, Lindy, a fitting tribute. And thank you MaryGK for the tribute video. Hadn't realised it was you that had put it on until I read it properly.