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Oh  Richard I truly hope that her tag has fallen off and that she is not presumed dead. i typing this with a big lump in my throat, and I am feeling so sad now.

My hope is that Roy had a bad batch of cotton or his sewing was a little off this year and the tags have fallen off for Logie, Deshar, Glen and now Nethy! We can only hope. So many ospreys die each year through many causes so to lose four is not  unusual as Richard says but EJ is there and ready and waiting. Lets hope she finds herself a younger male and raises many healthy chicks. Bets on Henry returning?

Oh Richard that is just so sad {{hugs}} to everyone at LG , a vain hope that she will return and that it was a malfuntion what a day that will be if she does .  I cant believe how fond we get of these birds so I am in tears feeling like I have lost a friend , she has kept us going with her journeys during the winter and she was just doing so well .  Nethy we wont forget you or Deshar or Wee Yin , your Mum is back home and will bring more babies into this world to hopefully follow in your footsteps but hopefully they and you will return to LG .

All we can do is hope the tag has dropped off. Nethy is (was? - let's hope not) a strong bird who has obviously been doing well around the rivers in west Africa, so surely there is hope. Even if the worst is eventually confirmed the project has still been a huge success in terms of the knowledge gained that can be used to support future Osprey generations; and in terms of 'spreading the word' about the fantastic work of the LG team and the RSPB in general (just look at the number of replies to the last blog!). Richard & Co - thank you all once again and good luck for the coming season.

Oh no.  That is so sad.  We can all hope that her tag has fallen off but maybe we are just being shown what really happens in the real world to ospreys.  It is a privilege to have been part of this, and we are all learning so much from it, albeit such sad facts.  My heart goes out of everyone at LG and all the bloggers who must all be feeling the terrible loss after following Nethy for so long.  But we can but hope that it has only fallen off and she will be back one day.

So very, very sad!  She appeared to be doing so well.  We were so sure she would be all right. Let us hope that the tracking device has fallen off!  It will be a long wait to find out!  It is very difficult to find words, right now!  I am sure we are all feeling as bad as each other.  

Let us hope a male osprey arrives  soon to produce a new brood for EJ.

REPLY: Indeed Valc, it's sad news, but at a time of great optimism for the season ahead.  -  Richard

very sad if true.  Fingers crossed for next year but I guess it's just a sad fact we have to accept.  Looks like Saturday is the day we'll first visit LG but I saw my 1st Osprey of the season from the car on Tuesday  on the way back from a pupil exam in Elgin.  It was just about in Aberdeenshire with a large twig/small branch in it's beak.  I won't say exactly which road I was on as nest might be nearby but it was great to see it randomly.  Life goes on I suppose and it's time to focus on the birds still with us that we can help.

The highs and lows! So high when EJ arrived back safe and sound. Now the sad news that Nethy may have suffered a misfortune. Fingers crossed the tracking device has somehow become detached and that she may in the future return to LG.  Excited about the coming nesting though and look forward to the arrival of a mate for EJ.

Just logged on and found out the terrible news! How sad, I am still hoping like everyone that it is just her tag that has fallen off.  So many of us would not be here if it wasn't for getting involved in Nethy and Deshar last year when they were tagged and following their progress.   I have made many friends over the winter on the Loch Garten Bloggers site and I have learned such a lot on all sorts of subjects from people who know much more than me.  Thank you Nethy and Deshar.  I (like many others) will be glued to the website over the summer months hoping for a happy out come for EJ and her mate.  I think you all do a marvellous job at Loch Garten please pass on my best wishes to your team, thank you and keep up the good work, you are appreciated.

Nothing much I can add to the comments, I am devastated at this sad news.

If only there was someone out there who could go and check the spot. I feel for you all at LG and also for all school kids they will be so upset.

REPLY: Regarding the school children of Nethy Primary School, the timing of this news is unfortunate as they are Easter break just now.  One of us will go to school mid April when they are back and explain what has happened, and that sadly these things happen in nature.  -  Richard.

Sorry to hear the news about Nethy, lets hope it is the tracking device & not the end of our girl. best wishes to all the LG team & I hope a mate arrives soon foe EJ.

Richard and the Team, I am so sorry to hear the news. Terrible. I would like to think the best but can't at the moment.

Suzyblu (above) has said it all much more eloquently than I can about why we follow these birds. They touch you in ways I did not think was possible for a bird.

Although the tracking of the chicks has been much more traumatic than I thought, I wouldn't want to be without it now.

Still, looking forward, we are all cheering EJ on and whoever turns up for her. Then, more "emotional torture" while we watch (hopefully) the chicks.

Keep up the great work LG Team, we are with you all the way!!

Richard-do you know of any osprey turning up when thought dead, after no signals from the tracker, or is this too new a project.

REPLY:  Yes, too new a project.  Richard

Well I think the comments from everyone say it all, how these birds have captured the imagination, not to mention the hearts of everyone who has followed their stories thus far. It seems unfair that all of EJ's chicks should be in that 40% lost in the first year, if indeed that is the case. However I have been watching her sitting on the nest today in the sunshine and hope to see a new brood very soon.  I have also been watching the nest at Loch Lowes, the female there is over 20 years old so it goes to show that it is possible for them to live a long and full life, just luck of the draw I guess. Fingers crossed that Nethy's tag is just lost and that in a couple of years time there will be a joyful homecoming. I'm sure I and many others are hoping for that and will continue to watch events as they unfold at Loch Garten.

I'm gutted. Don't know what else to say, except that perhaps if Logie re-appears this year after a transmitter failure then there's a chance that Nethy is still alive...I'll cling to that for now

Devastated to hear the news about Nethy. Like everyone else I hope it's just the tag falling off- she's done so well so far, we all thought if any osprey could  survive the first year it would be Nethy.

Hope she surprises us by arriving back in Scotland in a year or two.

Hopes now pinned on EJ- a terrific 'mum', hope she gets an equally terrific mate this time!

If anyone doubted the interest in this site and the tracking project then these comments must dispell any doubts. Just look at the number of comments in just TWO hours. As with 'Logie' only time will tell if a technical failure, or in this instance, the loss of the unit, is the cause.  Richard says the project is too new BUT lets hope this year is the one in which it does happen.  Mike

This is the last news I expected - I had come to believe Nethy was invincible.  Thank you for breaking the news to us so swiftly, Richard, and my thoughts are with you all.  Deshar and Nethy opened my eyes to the Osprey world, and I'm a huge follower.  But perhaps now a more realistic follower.  But - as I type this EJ is sitting on her nest looking magnificent, and we look forward to a new season with all its highs and lows.  Thank you for everything that you do.

What dreadful news. I am devastated by it.

Peter

Gutted by this, that's all I can say on the subject at the moment. Hope we get some good news from the nest soon, EJ needs a mate and fast

REPLY: Plenty of time yet John, for a male to show.  Good high pressure here today, arrival weather if ever I saw some.  A male by Monday for sure I reckon.

Richard

No no, not again. Deep down I have been thinking how great it would be if Deshar turned up after all this year minus his sattellite tag  but now  it would be too much to ask for them both to have just been de-tagged somehow. Oh what sad news indeed if Nethy HAS been lost.

I cannot add any more.  So very sad!  Thank you for letting us know so quickly.  The spirit can't help hoping but also has to be realistic.  Nethy and her family have given such a lot of pleasure and shared emotions to so many people.  This news is very sad but I wouldn't have missed all the ups and downs and the blogging for anything.  And we're all about to go again!!

To all the staff at Loch Garten my sincere commiserations for the very real possibility that Nethy may be deceased.  On reading your news, I could not prevent the tears.  Not only is there very real sadness for the work you have all put in protecting her and her siblings, but also for the determination and strength of character she had to survive the gruelling journey. For the moment I will cling to my 10% hope that the harness has somehow fallen off.  My very best wishes to you all.

Like everyone else I am gutted and also, like everyone else, I hope that the problem is with the tag and not Nethy and she is still flying free.Lets all look forward to this year and success to E.J. and whoevever her mate will be in rearing a healthy brood this season.

Like others before me i can't believe it, she seemed  to be so strong, Richard is there anyone out there who can go and locate the tracker and possibly discover the cause? it just goes to show that only the very strongest make it back to Loch Garten. what a strong bird EJ must be, lets hope this years brood (when they arrive) do better. :(

REPLY: Just not practical to go looking. -  Richard

Richard - thanks for letting us know the seemingly sad news :(

Let's hope it has fallen off and not something worse. One question, is it something that would ever be followed up? Do you have contacts out that way that could go and have a look? Or is that not practical?

Many thanks and all the best to the team!

Matt

REPLY: Just not practical Matt.   -  Richard

I so hope for everyone up at LG that Nethy's tag has just fallen off and she appears in years to come. I think that's what I'll hold onto. Sometimes you wonder if it's worth knowing what happens after they migrate. At least EJ is back and here's to another successful season this year. Let's keep all the positive thoughts guys.

I am so so sorry to hear of this dreadful news, but something inside me says we will be surprised by Nethys reappearance in the next few years. Technology is wonderful but there is always the chance that the satellite has fallen off. Who would be the greatest predator of ospreys, Richard. Could man do this or what other reason could there be? I really dont want to write her off just yet. The ups and downs of the osprey season has started very early!

I'm so sad for all your team, but will cling to the hope that the tag has fallen off and our feisty Nethy is still out there eating loads of fish.  She brought a lot of joy to a great many people and we must thank her for that.

I refuse to believe that Nethy is no longer with us.  She is too intelligent.  She has probably got rid of that 'tag thing'.  I think we should think positive and expect to see her back at some time in the future.  To me, she will be messing about on the Gambia!

Welcome back EJ.  She looks splendid.  Don't you feel like kissing her, she is so clever.

I've been reading the osprey diaries since about 2005. Lots of ups and downs in that time. I was gutted to hear about first Deshar and now Nethy. They had an amazing journey. I'm really happy EJ's back and am looking forward to another seasons of ups and downs and excitements!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Nethy's tag has fallen off.  It's too sad to think that all 3 have lost their fight for survival.  

How is Caper Watch going? Not much fun getting up for 5.30am I bet

REPLY: 5.30am!  The chance would be a fine thing, that would be a long-lie.  It's alarm at 4am, to Osprey Centre for 4.45am, open for Caper-watch at 05.30am.  Mixed so far Carol, two male capers showed well on both 1st and 2nd April, one showed late and not that well on 3rd, and this morning, we blanked - nothing.  It's early days yet. - Richard

I see two ospreys on the nest! Has EJ found a mate already? *Bounce, bounce, bounce*

am sorry to be practical, but maybe instead of a plaque, just donations to the RSPB to do with what they will.

REPLY.  Agree Soosin, or join RSPB (on-line, quoting code PR08) or if you're a member already then encourage others to do so, or take out membership as a gift for someone.   -  Richard