Continued from Manton Bay - May 2022
Details about the Manton Bay nest can be found on the season’s opening post
The season so far: Maya returned 15 March @ 10:21 & Blue 33(11) on 21 March @ 17:29Egg #1 laid 31 March @ c 23:30 & hatched 09 May @ 23:02Egg #2 laid 03 April @ 18:31 & hatched 10 May @ 12:30Egg #3 laid 06 April @ 20:30 & hatched 12 May @ 08:24
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Under the careful care and protection of Maya and 33(11), all three chicks have thrived and later this month we will learn more about them when ringing takes place.
Unknown said:Ringing blog
Ringing blog
Thanks Alan for the link.
I am copying the contents here so we have a permanent copy of the chicks' biometric data just in case LRWT again change their website and we no longer have access to this data as has happened with all the previous archived blogs.
Ringing the Manton Bay Chicks
Monday 20 June 2022
Today marked a very exciting day for the Rutland Osprey Project, as our 3 growing chicks at Manton Bay were ready to be fitted with their rings. Led by a fully licenced ringer, a small team set off early in the morning into the Bay, excited to find out more about these incredible chicks.
The Manton Bay chicks are now 6 weeks old and they are starting to look more and more like their parents. At this stage the chicks are big enough for their blue Darvic and metal BTO rings to be fitted. The blue Darvic ring is fitted on the chicks’ right leg and the metal BTO ring is fitted on their left leg. These rings allow us and others to identify the individual, wherever the bird is, whether it is in Rutland, in their wintering grounds or elsewhere. By ringing the chicks, we will be able to gather some vital information on their survival and movements.
The three Manton Bay chicks were ringed early on Monday morning. A boat was launched from the fields behind and a ladder was lent up against the side of the nest. The three chicks were carefully lowered into the boat where they were ringed and other biometric data were taken. Maya and 33(11) were alarm calling above as the chicks were taken, this is now Maya’s 11th time experiencing this!
The ring numbers for this years’ brood are 1H1, 1H2 & 1H3. The biometric data taken indicates that all three chicks are females. When determining the chicks’ sex, the size of the bill, the thickness and length of the tarsus (the lower leg of birds) and their weight all play a part in distinguishing between male and female chicks. A typical weight range for males is between 1300 and 1500 g, whereas the weight for females is around 1800 g. The length of the tarsus also helps to tell between male and female chicks. Females have an average tarsus length of 57.9 mm though can exceed 60 mm whereas males have an average tarsus length of 53.6 mm, but can reach up to 58.0 mm.
Biometric Data for Manton Bay Chicks 2022
Data Taken
Manton Bay Chicks
Darvic Ring Number
1H1
1H2
1H3
BTO Metal Ring
1380169
1380170
1380171
Sex
Female
Wing Length/mm
366
358
332
Weight/g
1830
1770
Bill length (tip to cere)/mm
29.6
29.4
30.9
Bill to head length/mm
81.6
82.6
79.8
Bill depth/mm
20.8
18.8
20.2
Tarsus thickness/mm
14.8
14.3
14.4
Tarsus length/mm
55.9
57.6
Tail length/mm
132
138
128
Ringing is the only time these Ospreys will be handled and it is done as quickly as is safely possible and is always done by someone who has all the necessary certification and experience. As soon as the ringing was finished - and of course after we made sure the camera was spotless - the chicks were returned to the nest and we left the Manton Bay family to resume their normal way of life.
and the photos
© LRWT
chicks not doing much wing exercising yet - just enjoying the view!
16:58 Fish!
Maya grabs the fish as the chicks gather round
33 flies off and feed gets underway
they really are three beauties
L-R 1H2 > 1H3 > 1H1
18:20 Fish finished and Maya prepares to take off
chicks bunch up looking out on the world
then see their mum coming back
who then stands watch over the chicks
catch up on today's activities:
: 33 arrives with breakfish
Maya and chicks gather round
1H1 gets it first!!
soon taken by Maya
and feed get underway
after a bit Maya flies off leaving the chicks to feed themselves - 1H2 having a go!
08:48 more fish and 1H2 flaps her wings
09:31 1H3 does some exercising
12:27 and a good effort from 1H1
12:30 Maya returns and dishes out more fish
13:15 all having a rest!
Reminder of the chicks ages:
Today:
Blue 1H1 is 46 days old
Blue 1H2 is 45 days old and
Blue 1H3 is 43 days old
They do indeed Patily :-)
15:23 Fish! - 33 lands with a whopper for the girls
Maya follows 33 and quickly makes for the fish
15:27 Some good wing flapping and little hops from 1H2
and same capture of her from the wide angle cam