This the Osprey Chat Thread to cover the period September 2019 to the end of February 2020 in the generally 'quiet period'. Useful/interesting snippets, comments, pics, news, etc, all welcome
The July-August 2019 thread
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Many followers of the LG nest will have heard of Patrick Preston, who over many years, has written poetry about the LG nest. The VC has now produced a Blog giving his poems. There is an additional one posted in 2011 on the ringing of Tore and Bynack.
In 2008 he wrote, which I find particularly poignant, given the title, and what eventually happened to him.:
DESHAR'S LAMENT Who’d have a bigger sister
you wouldn’t out of choice.
She’s pushy and she’s greedy
and she’s got the loudest voice.
I used to have a chance
when I was second in the queue.
But after titch gave up the ghost
those chunks of fish were few.
She’s only two days older
but she thinks that she’s queen bee.
“I’m bigger, better, nay – the best,
just follow after me”.
“I’ve flown across to that old tree
why don’t you have a try?”
“Give me some space to flap my wings –
I’ll show you I can fly”.
When I can fly I’ll learn to fish
before she gets the knack.
Then what I catch I’ll eat myself
and not bring any back.
When she gets older and comes back
to find herself a mate.
He’ll be hen pecked all the season
but I’ll leave him to his fate.
By Patrick Preston
Operation Osprey Volunteer