Monday 8 July 2024

Update on Loch Arkaig Ospreys

 

Update on Loch Arkaig Ospreys

                                            Five-week-old ospreys

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

For reasons beyond my control, I have not been watching the Loch Arkaig ospreys (hatched and reared by Louis and Dorcha) recently, but had an opportunity to catch up today.

The last time I looked, the third osplet, known as ‘bobs’ when very young, because their heads bobble and wobble about, died. It became very cold and wet and could not reach its mother for shelter. In addition, it was bullied and ragged by its older siblings, could not feed and died.

 Louis has been raising chicks since 2020, first with Alia, who failed to return in 2022, and latterly with Dorcha. Louis has always been a very good provider, bringing in several fish a day, but recently his performance has given cause for concern. There is no knowing whether he is ill or there is some other reason for his inability to feed his family. The growing six-week-old osplets need regular and larger feeds or they will fail.

Woodland Trust, which manages the nest webcam, became increasingly worried that the two healthy osplets might starve to death and so arranged for them to be relocated to Eastern Spain. It is not usual for them to intervene, but they decided it would serve no purpose to allow two strong chicks to die, so they were moved at the beginning of the month, on Monday 1st July.

Spain is trying to reintroduce ospreys and is in the second year of a five-year project near Playa Santa-Ana. There is no guarantee of success, but at least the osplets will have a better chance of survival.

It has been a poor year for ospreys, the bad weather being a key factor, with many nests facing difficulties. The hope now is that Louis and Dorcha will be able to build up their strength, ready for Dorcha to migrate later this month or early in August.

Louis, if he has recovered, will follow in late August or early September. He is thought to be about 11. Around 70% of osplets do not survive to breeding age, at three. The oldest ospreys live to between 10 to 15 years, so Louis is reaching a grand age. The oldest recorded wild osprey lived to over 30.

25 comments:

  1. If they relocate the chicks how will they get fed? Will they be fed and cared for by humans? It's very sad that so many are not surviving, with climate changes and changes within the oceans, the situation is likely to be worse unless help can be found for them. I hope these chicks survive, Louis and Dorcha too.

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    1. I imagine they will be reared by humans - I couldn't find any information, but they will not be able to feed themselves until they can fly and fish.

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  2. Nature is very cruel. I always struggle to find ospreys in the wild not to mention a nest and kittens

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    1. It really is a case of 'survival of the fittest' and it is most unusual for humans to intervene.

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  3. And I thought it was just humans who relocated from Scotland to Spain in search of better weather!
    Cheers, Gail.

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  4. It will soon be the falcons breeding in the middle of our city season. It is policy to never interfere with what happens and there has certainly been some tragic years. In this case, I think the relocation of the ospreys is warranted.

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  5. I hope things work out for the young ospreys and their parents. Sometimes nature is tough.

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    1. They really do survive against the odds - Darwinism in action.

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  6. I found this post fascinating and a very interesting read about the Ospreys. I was quite surprised when you said they were being moved to Spain ( I thought you were in the US) and then noticed your were in the UK. Thanks for this update on the Ospreys!

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    1. There are a number of webcams across the world and it's fascinating to watch the development of different species.

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  7. I hope these two little ones survive to migrate. I saw our 2 in the nest the other day, before all the fireworks. I am not sure how the adults have been doing feeding this long 4th celebration weekend. The boat activity and skiing along with nightly fire works! The noise drives Precious and me crazy and we are 1 mile from the water. Think on those poor bobs.

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    1. Somehow they seem to survive, often against the odds. How lovely that you can see yours so close by.

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  8. Let's hope it works out for these special birds
    Alison in Wales x

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  9. Heartbreaking story ... nice outcome for the two surviving chicks! Hopefully, Louis recovers and Dorcha has a healthy migration.
    (My latest post: UK Tour 06 - Beamish Museum)

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  10. We have to wait to see if they return next year.

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  11. A fascinating post. I wonder why they decided to send them to Spain if it is going to require human intervention. I assume we could have done that here.

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    1. It could have been done here, but it was decided to help the Spanish with their project to reintroduce ospreys. Other countries have helped UK with reintroduction of species like beavers.

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  12. Let's hope the move to Spain is the way forward for these two osplets! xxx

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  13. I do hope that things go well for the two osplets and their parents.

    All the best Jan

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    1. We have to wait for such a long time to find out while recognizing that we may never find out.

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  14. Strange. I wrote a longish comment and it hasn't appeared.

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    1. That keeps happening to me, too. Irritating!

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