LOCH GARTEN - May 2022

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CRinger said:

 

JaneV said:

Well whatever they call her she will remain Mistle to me just as Seren remains Blue 5F.

 

 

Jane I know exactly how you feel!!!!! Green SK or SSK will always be MY Osprey! No-one elses. Just mine.

 

1. I will now explain why Green SK is 'mine'.

Lots of reasons.

1. I am terrified of heights. I get a nosebleed up a ladder. Roy D and I went out 1 evening (2002) to the nest and wanted to catch a chick. Roy had previously ringed her with a colour ring - Green SK. My kids were visiting me  -they were on holiday from school - and Roy put a fish in the nest with snares on. Green SK came back and Roy shouted we need to get her now! He put a ladder against the tree and looked at me! Being scared of heights is1 thing - but an Osprey at the other end we wanted to put a satellite tracker on was something else! I went up that tree! We brought the fledgling to the ground and my 12 year old daughter Hannah and I held it as Roy put on its backpack and transmitter. I leg each. The fledgling was trying to fly away.. Roy said 'whatever you do - don’t t go! You would NOT believe the strength and power of this young fledgling. Incredible! 10 minutes later Roy had done what he needed to do and we walked to an area that was clear of trees, let go and away she went - landing back on the nest to eat the bait we had put there.
2. The reason why Roy wanted to put a sat transmitter on this chick was because we knew she had 1 parent that was Scandinavian and the other Scottish. So.............. is the information on what direction to fly on migration passed in the genes? If so - then Scottish birds fly almost directly due south to reach Africa. Scandinavian birds fly very much more South west to the same direction. What direction would Green SK fly in?
3. We got our answer a few months later. Green SK flew half way between what you would expect a Scottish bird and a Scandinavian bird to fly at! To my mind genetics IS the answer BUT Roy had spotted she was flying against a strong easterly wind, which threw a little doubt on my conclusion. She flew (for a Scottish bird) WAY off course - way to the west of Spain. Remember these birds do not have waterproof feathers - they can't land on the sea like ducks can - if they do 20 minutes later they sink! Green SK flew over the sea getting further and further from land for about 36 hours. Then suddenly something happened. Instinct? I have no idea! But she suddenly turned due east and EVENTUALLY made it to the coast of Portugal where the signal was virtually static for a WEEK! She was obviously shattered. She found a tree to perch in and then started to fish again and HOPEFULLY put on weight.
4. I left LG in 2004 and was VERY sorry to go. I got another job at Stirling (– again surprisingly related to Ospreys!) – about 200 km from LG. In about 3006 or 7 a Forestry commission warden came to me and said he had found what he thought was a new Osprey nest in the forest. He told me where it was and, of course, I went out that evening to look at it. There was a bird on the nest! I took at my scope. She had a leg ring. It was Green SK! She had followed me from LG where I had helped put a sat transmitter on her 200 km south to Stirling.
5. Roy can give the impression of a gruff exterior. But inside he has a heart of gold. To allow 2 children to be there when we performed a delicate procedure on a wild bird and to be comfortable with 1 holding the bird is testament to his knowledge of the effect that such an experience can have on a child. Prior to this experience they had a passing interest in Ecology…………… now they both vote ‘Green’ in every election they can. BOTH my 2 children have since emigrated to Canada but I get an email from Han very year – DON’T FORGET TO TELL ME LATEST NEWS ABOUT GREEN SK!
6. That’s why Green SK is MINE!

Apologies for the length of the explanation.

Happy 82^nd birthday to Roy D this week!