Osprey News 28th March – Hedging His Bets
Posted on March 28, 2014 by rangeremma

Our male osprey is still waiting for his usual mate, our veteran female known to many as Lady, to arrive, but in the meantime, he has been flirting with another female osprey nearby.

 This new female bird was first seen earlier this week, and on Wednesday night there was some flirting on the flat top tree, which is between the two lochs on the reserve.  Yesterday he continued this pattern, whilst still paying attention to the original nest as well, but this morning there have been several mating attempts and at least one courtship fish delivery between the pair on their alternative site.

 This represents more than a wee flirtation, but is not at all unusual, as wild birds will often start another courtship in the absence of a usual mate, in order to ‘hedge their bets’ biologically so to speak- just in case their usual partner doesn’t turn up.

 Questions we know the answers to so far:

 1. This female osprey is not our resident female osprey   and could be a young bird looking for her first nest or another local bird also waiting for a mate and meanwhile ‘hedging her bets’ biologically too.  We do not believe this new bird is ringed.

 2. The tree the birds are favouring has a history of use by our birds as a ‘frustration eyrie’ (extra construction ospreys sometimes do when they’re unsuccessful in a breeding season to channel their instinct to provide) but is not yet a full nest. It could become one with lots of work by the birds if needs be.

 3. This tree is fully visible from the hides and we have a long distance camera on it, but of course it doesn’t have a close-up nest camera like our usual nest.

 4. If the birds do settle here, we can of course adapt and continue to monitor and protect the birds as always- we will be extra vigilant to ensure they are undisturbed.

 5. The last two years there have been similar flirtations by this male with other females, prior to our resident female’s arrival on the 30th March, with no effect on the subsequent successful breeding on our usual nest.

 We must remember it is still perfectly possible our resident female will still turn up and return to her usual nest and she will most likely draw her mate back to join her.

The instinct will be for him to favour the established partner with a proven breeding record. It is far too early to speculate about other possible behaviours at this point.

Ranger Emma

Osprey Diary 29th March
Posted on March 29, 2014 by rangeremma


Here at Loch of the Lowes, we are still waiting with baited breath to see if our  much loved veteran female osprey will make it back this year- for the last two years she has arrived on 30th of March , so maybe tomorrow will be the day?

If she does arrive, she will find her regular mate rather distracted by his increasingly serious flirtation with another female elsewhere! The male has only been to the main nest site- the one on our webcam- a few times today, and has spent most of his day on Flat top tree, bringing in a couple of fish and over 20 sticks to this potential alternative nest site.

There is still every possibility that this situation may change, with either bird drifting off to re-join other arriving mates on other nests- only time will tell. Meanwhile  we wait to see if things get even more complicated over the next few days, but we may have to start contemplating the possibility that this situation may be the “new normalâ€�.

Tracy has known Hurricane since he was hatched and watched over him since he started nesting so it's safe to say that no one knows him better than she does.  

Not to mention that Tracy is awesome in general, she has raised falcons, mothered them, healed them and I think knows their behaviour better than anyone I know.

Tracy knows more about Peregrines than anyone I know as well! Matter of fact, I bet she was a falcon in a past life! lol  She's the bomb!!!!   

             

Polly and Algo have their first egg! Hope things go well here!

1st egg!!!  

  

Whatcha doin'??

Beauty bringing him food, DC in the box...who's laying the egg here??  

Thanks for posting the videos, NCA! All the bonding these two are doing lately is amazing compared to their relationship the last 2 yrs.

How awful for those poor birds.   

First egg for Jack and O'Connor this morning sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 am!! 

 

are they full brothers or only half?

Full brothers-different years.

      

Awww! He waited for her to finish her treat so they could bond at the nest box 

He's softening towards her in his older age. 

He's got no choice since she isn't going anywhere! 

Nope! 

Follow up on the baby and its mother:  

http://youtu.be/LOFDXlzh0tU

Baby Gorilla Reunited with Mom at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

      

Awww! He waited for her to finish her treat so they could bond at the nest box 

He's softening towards her in his older age. 

As per Kim from Italy via C&C - confirmation today that SW and Boomer have 1 egg and a second on the way!!

She said they will be updating their Facebook page with the news and photos later today or tomorrow 

Congrats to them!  Hope all goes well.

Eggcellent nest choice - the east box with the cover!

It sure is!