This thread has been set up to follow the travels of Caledonia and Alba, the young ospreys raised at Loch Garten in 2012.
Their mother is “EJ”, the resident female at Loch Garten since 2003; there is some doubt about the identity of their biological father, given EJ’s dalliance with a male from a neighbouring nest, Blue XD, both before and after the return of her regular partner Odin, who raised them.
Caledonia hatched on 16th May and Alba on 18th May; they both fledged on 14th July.
This is a link to the Loch Garten blog describing the ringing and satellite tagging.
Caledonia’s ring is Blue/White AA1, reading downwards. Alba’s is Blue/White AA2, reading upwards.
Following the tracking
This page gives a quick overview of the routes on a map, which will be more useful once they start migrating.
If you want to look at the routes in more detail on Google Earth, this page contains instructions on setting up your PC to do this.
This blog contains some useful information about how the tracking works – we are now on a 3-day reporting period.
:) it is isnt it Mary.
Hazel b said: Maybe it is time to look for the answer to the question of when a Loch Garten chick did return. I do know that one of the chicks from the 1991 nest did but I guess there must be one since then. It would be good to know whether Baldrick was spotted but Loch Garten did not comment on that. Maybe now is the time to ask.
Maybe it is time to look for the answer to the question of when a Loch Garten chick did return. I do know that one of the chicks from the 1991 nest did but I guess there must be one since then.
It would be good to know whether Baldrick was spotted but Loch Garten did not comment on that. Maybe now is the time to ask.
I have a note that one of the 1999 chicks was seen in 2002, but no further details. Ollie & Olive raised 19 chicks to fledging between 1994-2001 (out of 25 eggs, in 8 years) - I find it hard to believe that only one of those survived, but don't know of any evidence to the contrary.
We can see this as a positive, though: it isn't long since there were so few UK nests that they could all be identified & monitored - so any ringed adults would be very likely to be identified. Now there are so many that it is impossible to keep track. It is quite possible that, for example, Baldrick's sisters, or the three 2006 LG girls, are out there breeding somewhere, but noone has had time to ID them. I'm sure that George Waterston would (& Roy does) regard that as a mark of success rather than failure.
Re Baldrick: I'm sure Val confirmed (early this year?) that it definitely was him, but still can't find the reference.
Well the chick from the 1991 nest did go on to father Green 7B who later allegedly ousted EJ from her nest with Orange VS and brought her to Loch Garten in 2003
We now do have a data sheet for EJ and for Odin
Tiger Signature
If Roy Dennis reads this forum (probably not) then maybe he could answer some of these questions in the latest edition of his book.
Rachel R said:Re Baldrick: I'm sure Val confirmed (early this year?) that it definitely was him, but still can't find the reference.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
I don't think he has time, Tiger!
You are right Rachel it certainly is an amazing improvement for the uk osprey population that we can't keep track of all of the nests anymore. :)
I presume that ALAN's signature osprey made an appearance in honour of ALBA (RIP), that's very nice Alan.
Technology is wonderful but we're not advanced enough to be able to track all the birds we would like to. In future there will be better methods but by that time there will be far too many ospreys... I hope!
IMAGICAT
seagull0703 said: You are right Rachel it certainly is an amazing improvement for the uk osprey population that we can't keep track of all of the nests anymore. :)
I find it hard to believe that dear Alba is no more...I thought if one bird would survive.......Whatever could have happened? Everything seeemed so perfect I hope her end was quick whatever it was and tell myself at least she had a good life up until that point.
Please stay safe Caledonia