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.
Hi CIRRUS - Our chicks seem to have the right idea about where to go on their holidays, this year.
All of you note this prediction. If EJ and Blue XD return in 2013 there will be a replay!
Tiger Signature
I AM COMMITTING THAT STATEMENT TO MEMORY NOW, TIGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(a good prediction, though, and highly possible, I feel :-)) )
Lindybird said: I AM COMMITTING THAT STATEMENT TO MEMORY NOW, TIGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (a good prediction, though, and highly possible, I feel :-)) )
You do that and then roll it out next April. :)
Perhaps Odin might feel getting back earlier is now a priority. I still remember when he brought a fish to the empty nest and he waited with it for ages, poor thing - and all the time EJ was with Blue XD! I'm glad she stuck with Odin (eventually).
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Well a Lady doesn't like to be kept waiting :)
© Scottish Wildlife Trust - Loch of the Lowes
Hazel b said: All of you note this prediction. If EJ and Blue XD return in 2013 there will be a replay!
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
Rachel R said:For those worrying about the terrain shown on Google Earth...
One of them was me - thank you RACHEL :-)
Thank you COOKY for the info on Nouakchott - I thought it looked like a one-time port that had lost its sea, so arid!
So, did Alba follow in father's footsteps? I mean wing-flaps ;-D
IMAGICAT
ChloeB said:I feel a repeat of the OVS, EJ, Henry saga coming on! :)
A good chance if events and circumstances are similar - I will bet with TIGER on this one.
Blue XD and Green J have a new nest which would withstand weather better than their old one as it was getting top heavy and do collapse over time in weather situations so this may be eliminated but if EJ/Blue XD get together the nest may not be an issue. I think after the little Highland Fling he came to Loch Garten because he had no nest.
Odin arrived earlier than ever he has done so probably think he would arrive simlilar timing and EJ was a little early but then she normally is an early arrival.
Blue DX and Green J do not have their track records over the years so arrival times may be their standard.
In 2000 when Green J was tagged she came home 6/4/2000 and same date in 2001 so she is a later female bird from these records.
Trust this helps all.
It is all The Everyday Life of Ospreys - This was nothing unusual.