Sad news for the 25 yr old Osprey mom in Scotland, still has chics in nest

[Donna]

Sometimes the fish is a really big one and it will drag the osprey down to drown.

Stop. Hold on. The bird will not let GO?
What mother of all design flaws are we talking about here?

dale

Sometimes (just like a fish hook getting caught via the barbs) the osprey can't release.  It happens sometimes.  A big fish, with lots of life and speed (rock fish comes to mind) will take off when the bird sinks in.  Accidents....

Found this:

Hunting & Feeding
Ospreys are expert hunters, well-adapted to catching live fish. Locating their prey from the air, ospreys will sometimes dive more than 100 feet, pulling up at the last moment before plunging feet-first into the water to capture a fish. Sometimes going completely underwater, the osprey has unique nostrils that close to keep out water. Their heavily muscled legs, powerful wings, and strong feet allow them to catch and fly off with fish up to three feet below the surface of the water! As the osprey rises in flight, it will grasp the fish firmly with two claws facing forward and two facing back. Adult ospreys are capable of carrying fish that equal their own size.

OK so they take BIGGER fish than that of their own weight? YIKES!!!

[valhalla]

They can and they have according to MD DNR.

[MAK]

Awesome facts and info some of us are learning from the Jersey girls.  Thanks!

[Donna]

Osprey Diary 22nd July
July 22nd, 2010 by E Rawling, Perthshire Ranger SWT

  AT last we have some sunshine!!!! What a glorious morning with the loch and the whole world seeming fresh washed and plumped up with moisture. As the sun warms up, the steam is rising in the woods and all our wildlife is drying out!

 Our lady osprey is no exception- sitting proudly on the nest perch , preening and enjoying the feeling of sun on  her feathers. She must be starting to dream of Africa surely- warm winds, hot nights, big fish….

 The good, calm weather  will certainly help all our ospreys fishing and we hope the rate of deliveries goes up- time too out some real weight on for our wee family.

Emma Rawling

Perthshire Ranger

[Donna]

Osprey Diary 23rd July
July 23rd, 2010 by E Rawling, Perthshire Ranger SWT

  Another beautiful morning at Lowes with more sunshine and the happy sight of lady and her two youngsters on the nest, feeding happily.

Those of you who have been worrying about the smaller chick getting enough food, will be glad to hear it had a breakfast fish all to itself this morning at the crack of dawn! Nature’s survival of the fittest’ rule can be harsh, but in this case the wee one is getting enough to get by at the moment. However, it is certain that the bigger chick will be at an advantage, with extra fat reserves to call upon if times are hard. This may be particularly pertinent come migration time in a few weeks- although there is a great deal of luck involved in surviving your first trip to Africa for a young osprey, having a good bodyweight to start with will certainly help .Many of you will have also noticed the amount of intruder activity around the nest over the last week or so. This is not surprising really, given the timing of other young ospreys in nearby nests also fledging, and their parents also frantically trying to keep up with the demands of teenage mouths! The ospreys alarm calls you are hearing are not too serious (unlike earlier in the season when there was a serious risk to chicks etc) but more of a symbolic protest at the neighbours getting too close.Emma Rawling Perthshire Ranger

[Donna]

http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/swt/swt.php Mom and kids at nest now making some strange noises. They are so cute.

[Donna]

Osprey Diary- July 24, 2010
July 24th, 2010 by rboardman

Warm and grey this morn…

I shall start with sending apologies to all for the lack of  live coverage. Late yesterday afternoon our technology let us down. None of the three of us last evening could do what is required to encourage our PC to talk to the internet. I believe that it is something that our head office has control.  We shall continue to work away.

Yesterday morning at my breakfast table overlooking Dunkeld and the broad rushing Tay river, the first bird of the day was an ospey peering into the water. They are often seen over the Tay valley, usually I see shreeching swift first thing. What is missing is the consistant piping of oystercatchers…

I am rambling to note that there are obvious wildlife changes already, albeit mid-summer. “Our� female osprey spends less time on the nest. Just last week she overviewed the bay and nest from a very predicatable perch. She does not frequent this tree as often these days. The juvies had a long bath yesterday, but still, oddly to me occasionally lie flat in the nest as if they have forgotten how to perch. Often, they soar ever higher and farther away from the Loch for longer and longer periods. The male continues to briefly provide his perch drops to the nest, and then is gone…I have witnessed “our� female tearing across the Loch after intruders lately. It is hard to believe that she was poorly when I watch now. She flies well and I am hopeful that she will successfully fly south. Of course we all are wondering when that will be. Personally I think that it may well be by the end of the month.

[Donna]

Osprey Diary, July 25, 2010
July 25th, 2010 by rboardman

It is feeling warm here already…air still a time of writing…

Having been here for two hours all feels “normal�, although I did hear a tawny owl and saw a young song thrush as I walked down to the Visitors Centre this morn.

Two juvies were feeding upon my arrival. Were there two fish delivered, I did see two tails? I am hopeful that this is what occurred, for it does seem that the smaller youngster is not eating as much as we would like. Perhaps having a more bold attitude has rewards, at least when it comes to fresh fish. Less squawking and more action may be our advice. The “greedy� one has flown off a couple of times with fish to eat over the past few days. I hope that perching and eating were well accomplished, for this is another essential skill. Eating at the table (nest) is a luxury for these birds for only a limited time. Perhaps if “greedy� does this more frequently and “our� intrepid male provides a double order the smaller juvie will have time and space to eat.

So, without sounding too much like a cheer leader today let us hope that larger fish or a more bold attitude is the order of the day.

Yes, Mom, continues to preside over the Loch in fine form.

I will continue to work on Cam 2.

I started with the word “normal�. I wonder if we will experience something not so today…Rinchen

[Donna]

Osprey Diary July 26th
July 26th, 2010 by E Rawling, Perthshire Ranger SWT

  What a lovely site this morning of our lady osprey and both chicks on the nest, feeding well, though there is undoubtedly some squabbling going on. You will notice that mum is ‘babying’ the smaller chick, feeding it though it is well able to feed itself by now- perhaps just to ensure it is getting its’ fair share!

Our female osprey has taken to pending most of her time (when not out fishing) sitting across from the nest on the other side of the bay. Can you blame her- she must be sick of the sight of it after three solid months stuck there with eggs and chicks! It is also vital that she gets herself fit again , as migration looms only a few short weeks away.Dad is working extremely hard, even though he’s seldom seen- blink and you’ll miss him during his lightening quick fish deliveries to the nest. He is flat out keeping up with the demand, and is doing a stirling job yet again- what a hero!For those of you able to visit us here at the Lowes, we can assure you that even though the nest may often now be empty, there is still plenty of osprey action on the loch. There is almost always at least one of the birds in sight of the hides, and often a lot of fishing action on the loch, both with our birds and other form the nearby area- all in all, agree to visit and see the ospreys for yourself!Emma RawlingPerthshire Ranger

[Donna]

Osprey Diary 27th July
July 27th, 2010 by E Rawling, Perthshire Ranger SWT

  What a defensive lot we have in our wee osprey family! This morning all three (mum and two chicks) were happily roosting in the trees opposite the hide- you may have seen me zooming in on them – from where they can survey their domain. They show little interest in the nest now (far too grown up for that obviously!) UNLESS someone else gets too close (in this case an intruder osprey). What a lightening fast reaction- all three of them appeared within seconds and began mantling (covering the nest with dropped wings and squawking) over the nest like it was still the most precious thing in the world to them.

 There has been a lot of discussion about our female osprey’s weight recently- we estimate she lost up to a third of her bodyweight during her dramatic illness. Rest assured she is slowly regaining weight (despite always favouring the chicks over herself with food) but we would not yet say she is back to ‘before-illness’ weight, and we would like to see her put more on before she attempts autumn migration. By the way, we judge a birds weight at the front over the chest- what is known as the ‘keel’ or breastbone, is where birds carry their fat reserves.

 Emma Rawling

 Perthhsire Ranger


Osprey Diary 28th July
July 28th, 2010 by E Rawling, Perthshire Ranger SWT

  Three interesting snippets of osprey behaviour from the last 24hrs.

 Firstly our lady had to fight off a very determined intruder yesterday, and unusually, shouting and posturing was not enough! She actually had to use her talons and beak to see the intruder at the nest off- for this  to happen is unusual. As well as other juvenile and curious birds at this time of year, there are also now ospreys starting to head south, who have either failed to breed, or bred very early, so there will be doubtless more such encou7nters.

 Secondly, we had a visit form dad at the nest yesterday afternoon, with a nice juicy pike- and unusually, there was no one there to receive it. Where were the hungry hordes?  He sat for a few minutes ( a nice chance to see him in detail as his recent visits have been so fleeting) and when no one else emerged to claim the prize, her quite rightly took off with it himself!

 Lastly a few of you noticed one of our chicks yesterday pick up at least two things from the water- a pine cone and a stick! Not quite a fish, but a good sign it is honing its skills in coordination, visual calculations and accuracy. Keep it up wee one!

 Lets hope today has as many equally exciting developments.

 Emma Rawling

 Perthshire Ranger

[Bobbie Ireland]

Thanks for the osprey news, Donna. The Lady of the Loch sure is something!

[MAK]

Thanks for the osprey news, Donna. The Lady of the Loch sure is something!

    

[Donna]

Osprey diary 29th
July 29th, 2010 by fiona, osprey HQ

Good morning bloggers,

It’s another pleasant day here at Lowes and all seems well on the nest. There was a fish delivery just a short while ago and, yup you guessed it, greedy guts got in there first! Chick no.2 really needs to start growing up and fighting for itself, and mum needs to let it! Lady is due to leave by the end of next week and she seems to be on a mission to eat as much as possible to gain the strength she needs, which is a good sign she is ready to leave. Her progress would be better if she didn’t have all these intruders harassing her and the chicks, but a mother’s work is never done and she will defend her young and home to the very last.

We are all savouring these moments however, as we all know, this very well could be Lady’s last year and we will applaud her every little victory, the last being here final(?) migration.

I wish her safe travels and hope she makes it and returns next season. What a great mother she is.

[MAK]

The very best mother! 

[jeanne]

Fingers crossed and prayers said for this precious mama bird.