Just when everything was going so smoothly & positively, we now have oursleves a problem. Fishing line.
Because of the low resolution of the live-streaming image you see on your computers, you might not be aware of todays events. This morning the team called me at 9.15am to say that there was fishing line in the nest, brought back by Odin when he returned with a fish. At first, the line was stretched taught across the nest at just above the chick's head height. But when Odin left the nest it apperars that the line is attached to him and luckily when he flew off, it snapped and he took it away with him. He is now trailing a 40ft length of line, attached to his left foot. And there appears to be another shorter length dangling over the back edge of the nest too. At one point EJ also had a short 5 inch length dangling from her mouth. However at 5pm this evening this seems now to have gone.
So we have been watching very closely all day. Thankfully the line Odin is trailing doesn't seem to have affected his fishing abilities so far. He has brought back two other fish unimpeded, safely handed them to EJ, who has successfully fed the fish to all three chicks, who all seem to be doing very well. If you've been watching today, you really wouldn't know or see anything untoward.
Our concerns though, are the potentially horrible scenarios that could befall Odin, EJ and family. It is of course hoped that it all might come to nothing. A few years ago, former Garten male osprey, Henry, ended up with a bit of fishing line too, and somehow he managed to get rid of it. But it was a lot shorter than this 40ft length. Our worries are many; at each and every time when Odin is perched in a tree, this line could snag on a branch, anchoring him, and when he tries to fly off, he could get strung up. The line has a swivel on it joining two lengths of line of different test, and this weight can swing and sway around, so possibly flip over a branch on which he might perch. If this were to happen here on site, then we would hope to be able to go to his aid. But if it happens elsewhere, off-site, when we know not where, then he could end up in more trouble.
If this weren't worrying enough, at each and every time he returns to the nest with a fish, he will be bringing that line to the nest which could lead to it snagging on the nest, entangling the young and/or entangling EJ.
So all in all, it is a very worrying time and the atmosphere at the Centre today was very subdued with great concern and furrowed brows all 'round. This, compared to the jubilation of recent days. It has really taken the wind out of our sails.
All's well for now though, but something bad could potentially happen at any time, that's our worry. So we're on the case, we are considering what options we may have and are consulting with experts about what, if anything, we might be able to do. You out there, I know will be as gutted as us here, at this development, but we are trying to keep up-beat and positive. Things are fine currently, honest they really are. Be re-assured the chicks are doing really well, includng the smallest one, muscling-in to get his piece of the action at feeding time. It's just the angst of what might happen.
We will keep you posted. You'll want to know, we know that, but please bear with us. We're extremely busy at the Centre, rushed off out feet with so many visitors, which is absolutely marvellous (400-500 per day since the weekend), and if you've amongst those who have visited us, then we thank you for doing so and for your support. But we've now all this to occupy us and contend with too, so if we're tardy in our blog writing or responses to your comments, be easy on us, ok?
Thanks. - Richard Thaxton