With the ringing just days away I thought it would be fine to guess the sexes of the chicks
I think Star is a female and Storm a male
Star has a larger body, likes to brood Storm and the egg. It also has larger feet
I saw the chicks standing next to each other and Storm clearly has a smaller body and "feet "
What is your guess?
Formerly known as Barbara Jean
You have made some good points there Barbara Jean - but I have felt from the beginning that they may be two females. If they are not, then as you say the older one is sooo like EJ in almost every way, I can't imagine her not being female!
When they were younger I was sure that they were two females. Now I am not so sure, but I would say that Star is female, and Storm I now think is male.
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
Barbara Jean - I think Star is female and Storm is male. Star is a bigger build, has big feet and is quite aggressive. Star is smaller and leaner ... not just because of the five day difference ... seems more laid back,and likes to be brooded!
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
I'm convinced Star is female: size, behaviour etc. all support this. Like Barbara Jean, I think Storm is male - 'he' seems smaller than just the 5 day age difference accounts for, and already showing Odin's more sleek, streamlined shape. Wasn't watching as closely last year, but I think the size difference is greater than between #1 and #3 last year, with presumably a similar age gap.
It will be very interesting to see what Roy thinks later in the week - though I'm sure he would be first to admit that even the experts get it wrong on occasion (see discussion on the other thread earlier re - among others - Henry).
Interesting discussion on sexing osprey chicks on 24 July 2005 The author Lisa who has been webmaster at Blackwater for a very long time is very knowledgable. She does post on the DPOF board fairly regularly like here.
Tiger Signature
bit of wishful thinking going on here
I think Star is female from her general shape, size and similarity to EG, both in looks and mimicked behaviour. I also think Storm is male. Yes, he is smaller ans slimmer, with smaller feet, but this is not what has convinced me. What has struck me is something not mentioned here before, and that is head size and shape. Storm's head is quite a bit smaller than Star's, much more than could be accounted for by 5 days difference in age. Storm's head is smaller in proportion to its size than Star's head in proportion to her size. It is also slimmer and sleeker, and this is the difference I use to tell the birds apart.
Smiles, Jan.
Tiger that article is very interesting. She says even the size of the body and feet of the chicks is not an indicator of their sex. It is only when they are mature that size is an indicator of the sex. The chicks may or may not keep their necklaces as adults . So any decision on the sex is just an educated guess.
I suppose the only fool proof method if deciding the sex is when a person sees an Osprey lays eggs or mate . LOL
I wonder if I can place a late bet.
I will say that both chicks are female! :)
And I say Star is female and Storm is a boy. That's my guess
Cos Star is bigger and Storm smaller, mostly. The five days difference much be irelevant by now.