How many of us are torn between dread and hope for the new day to come?
The peace and quiet of the LG nest is punctuated solely by unalarming chick noises. Long may that last.
IMAGICAT
Unknown said: I note no one has any sympathy for the fish that are flailing about being eaten alive!
I note no one has any sympathy for the fish that are flailing about being eaten alive!
[/quote]I agree totally, Mims - funnily enough we had a beautiful kestrel in the garden yesterday. I love seeing them, but my husband (Limpy) does not like seeing them catch our smaller birds (his favourites). That's nature, though, and it's not as if you can tell a kestrel to go vegetarian.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Hazel b said: Very sad scenes - but nature's way. It wouldn't have happened if the fishing was good. Better to have two strong chicks migrate successfully than for the limited food supply to be shared round more equally and none to be successful. Yes, I suppose 3 could have been removed from the nest or extra fish could be delivered, but you come on the RSPB site to watch nature being lived in the raw, red in tooth and claw. I note no one has any sympathy for the fish that are flailing about being eaten alive! This is not the Disney channel.
Very sad scenes - but nature's way. It wouldn't have happened if the fishing was good. Better to have two strong chicks migrate successfully than for the limited food supply to be shared round more equally and none to be successful.
Yes, I suppose 3 could have been removed from the nest or extra fish could be delivered, but you come on the RSPB site to watch nature being lived in the raw, red in tooth and claw.
This is not the Disney channel.
I have often asked if anyone had any sympathy for the fish but have yet to get a positve repy!
[/quote]Afraid I have never seen your Q TIGER Perhaps they have been posted on other threads or before I became a watcher I cannot watch when a fish is brought alive to the nest.....with all predators it is not the fact that they kill their prey......it has to be to keep things in balance....but terror/suffering before the victim expires....that is what I find the hardest to cope with over little inoffensive #3
Barbara C said: Thank you for the advice and this is what I believe I will do What has happened to the the third chick is what can happen in nature - not great, but this happens and it would have been wrong for the rspb to interfere. People that do not understand this should give up wataching and take up something else -
Thank you for the advice and this is what I believe I will do
What has happened to the the third chick is what can happen in nature - not great, but this happens and it would have been wrong for the rspb to interfere.
People that do not understand this should give up wataching and take up something else -
[/quote]
Limpy,
I agree that the Centre should not have become involved in the goings on, on the nest.
However I think you are being a bit unkind in telling people to go away and do something else. We all have differing opinions and attitudes, this is an open forum and the diversity of the people here is it's strength.
Now I'm away to bed.
All for one and one for all.
Hazel b said:I have often asked if anyone had any sympathy for the fish but have yet to get a positve repy!
Honestly Tiger, I have voiced my pity for the fish but don't "bang on" about it because I shouldn't be watching birds that live on fish and then keep complaining about their plight. I have also said that I cannot watch the famous Pohtiolampi video and I don't go to the site any more because the fish there are trapped.
I think this is #1 resting itself on #3's little body, it pecks either a feather or a straw:
Thanks for the non-welcome. My blog was in no way intended to be calous or cause offence (which it seems to have had that effect on you) This is not a film whereby you can control the actors. this is the real world. The Dyfi Project lost 2 chicks under terrible conditions, and the intervention of the staff saved 1 chick. Surely better to save a chick under these conditions than to interfere with the NATURAL life or death of any wild animal. As I stated in my first blog I am a realist and accept what happens out there NATURALLY. If you can't see the natural side of nature you should possibly take up sewing as a hobby.
the best shot is the one you haven't taken yet.
Oh Clare you are soooo lucky!! As for your husband, perhaps he (and yourself) would like to see the heartening video called 'Prey fights back....and leaves' which I accidentally managed to capture, ( Kestrel cam at Arne site). The youngest is left alone, all others fledged, and the vole after a skirmish makes it's way quietly to the front of the nest whilst the little kestrel watches, not sure what to do, then steps to one side as the vole jumps out and is away. (We prayed for a parachute).
Unknown said: Hello Grant, My feeling is that bully2 will become a pretty formidable Osprey. I posted elsewhere that I tend to forget that these are big powerful raptors, nature has desinged them to kill to survive, this chick has shown that trait even before it can fly.. I feel it has a big future ahead of it. I echo your thanks to our constant video experts, and those that freely give their knowlege.. I would be lost wiyhout you guys. I'm away for now as I'm night shift tonight again and need to sleep. BFN
Hello Grant,
My feeling is that bully2 will become a pretty formidable Osprey.
I posted elsewhere that I tend to forget that these are big powerful raptors, nature has desinged them to kill to survive, this chick has shown that trait even before it can fly.. I feel it has a big future ahead of it.
I echo your thanks to our constant video experts, and those that freely give their knowlege..
I would be lost wiyhout you guys.
I'm away for now as I'm night shift tonight again and need to sleep.
BFN
I do not hate #1 and #2 and will continue to watch their develpment and hope for a successful season and migration with no more heartbreaks
What i didn't like was #2's cruel behaviour. When I taught i might say to a badly behaved child "I still like you but what I don't like is your behaviour" and I would apply that to #2
After having caught up with all the day's (mostly sad) events, I only have a couple of comments to make:
1. I understand why the RSPB do not intervene in such cases, although it's very difficult to watch for all concerned.
2. I don't understand why they (and particularly Richard) made such light of it on the blog. It has to be the most condescending post to date. Several bloggers have been watching the birds for years and have not seen anything like this. Where do the staff at LG get their information from? I am beginning to wonder.....
3. Comments telling people to 'go away and do something else if they don't like it' are unhelpful and divisive. Less people interested in following the lives of these birds ultimately means less interest in the natural world and less protection.
"Only two things are infinite - the universe and human stupidity. And I'm not too sure about the universe..." - Albert Einstein
A few hours now since I witnessed the horrible attack on #3 and it's subsequent death. I too have watched the nest for a number of years and appreciate that we are privileged to watch nature at such close quarters. I, like many others, know that the weakest chick is always at risk during hard times and the stronger chicks will fight for survival. However, this was a completely unprovoked, sustained attack, when there had been a good feed and this is what has upset so many of us. We are NOT stupid people who think this is the Disney channel. Please show a little understanding.
Incidentally I have volunteered several times at Loch Garten for Operation Osprey. I venture to say I am not the only one here to have done so, but I do not imagine that automatically makes my observations or opinions more valid that anyone who hasn't.