............so with a heavy heart, I need to let you know that we have concerns for Bynack.
Data last week made us wonder, but we wanted to see more data before beginning to draw any firmer conclusions. However, looking at data now for the past 10 days, it shows there to have been no movement from Bynack.
The data we get at this time of year is a fix at 09.00am and another at 17.00pm. Last week, with several identical fixes at both 9am and 5pm, we wondered (hoped!) that this suggested he had a favourite roosting tree perhaps, to which he routinely returned each evening at 5pm and remained there until 9am the next morning. But with sunrise out there in Mauritania (Nouakchott) currently at 07.37am and sunset at 18.58pm, his 9-5 routine would suggest that Bynack was always early to bed and always enjoyed a long-lie too, and was out & about in between times. Whilst much wildlife do become creatures of habit, that, I’m afraid, is unlikely.
But hang on in there everybody, it is just possible, that like Nethy and Mallachie before him, maybe Bynack is fine after all, but that his tag has dropped off, and continues to transmit from the same location. It’s certainly possible. There is a chance of a harness malfunction, but we cannot be sure that there haven’t been many over the years so the chances are slim, but there is nevertheless a chance, and it is all we can hope for, for now, until such time as these birds, currently logged as missing in action, presumed dead, surprise us all and are spotted back here in UK or elsewhere, identifiable from colour leg rings. Here’s hoping.
I’m sorry to have to bring you this bad news. We are as completely gutted as we know you will be too. In a week when the Osprey Team 2012 were appointed, with so much passion, enthusiasm and optimism from the candidates interviewed, and with the new season looming large, it all seemed to be going so well, and then this happens. Both Bynack and sister Tore managed to survive the hazards and rigours of their first migration, and having done so, though not by any means invincible of course, you kinda feel and hope that with that most difficult bit of their lives successfully completed, that they’ll fair well. Not to be, sigh.
It’ll be some consolation to you I’m sure, to know that at least both Tore and Rothes appear fine.
As a measure of how up-beat and optimistic we were about the blossoming spring, I had already planned to blog as follows, so despite the sadness, I’ve decided I might as well anyway, in the hope of lifting the mood.
Last week I reported on the joy of hearing a wren singing. Since then, now add to that, both blue & great tits, robin, song thrush and chaffinch. Apart from the cold and bitter wind-chill, it is very, very spring-like here in Strathspey right now – and is to be so all this week seemingly. So if you are in reach, why not pop up to the area and see it in all its magnificence.
The robin was singing his heart out in The Square in Grantown-on-Spey, sat atop a leafless tree outside the chippy. The song thrush was proclaiming territory on the edge of Nethybridge and whilst out walking in the hills at the weekend, I saw a golden eagle performing its gleeful roller-coasting display flight. Add to that the evocative sound-of-summer, the screaming of swifts to be heard whilst watching BBC’s recent Birdsong set in France, spirits were lifted and thoughts turned to the spring & summer ahead.
As I walked home in the moonlit darkness last night, with spring on my mind, it occurred to me that it’s about now, in February, that I often hear the yowling cries of courting foxes. So I stopped and stood still in the darkness and complete stillness to listen to the silence of the frosty night, and lo, on the eve of February, I heard an amorous fox, way off in the distant forest. Nice.
On my way in this morning all the above songsters were at it again, really quite a cacophony already, for this time of year, despite the very sharp frost and a temperature of -9 degrees C.
There’s lots to look forward to folks, so chin-up everybody.
Thanks for the news Richard even though it is not good. It is exactly what I been expecting this last week. Those two missing points were very telling.
As I have said a number of times I have only ever known one juvenile osprey to come back from the "dead" and what a wonderful surprise that was.
There was a possibility of another one in the USA last year but I am not sure that came to anything.
Then there was the big excitement last year when we thought that Baldrick (yellow 28 from 2004) had popped up again. Unfortunately that became a very confused story.
I can only speak for myself but when tagged birds disappear I prefer to think of them as dead. That way one gets a proper chance to reflect on their lives.
Bynack in his short life gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. At one time he looked as if he had an impossible task competing with the much bigger chick #1 (Later named Tore but was unoffically name Star). :) Of course Bynack was unofficially named Storm as he was hatched during a violent storm which went on for a long time.
Later Bynack was known to get very loud when he wanted some fish. Best of all ChloeB and I came to visit him at Loch Garten and that was such an incredible pleasure.
Tagging is a faustian bargian. It giveth but taketh away.
So goodbye Bynack. If one day you should ever be found again it will be such a pleasure.
Thanks Richard for putting us in the picture. I am not surprised at the news either and as Tiger has said, it was a real treat to see him for ourselves at LG last year. Whatever the future may bring, Bynack has given us so much pleasure and for that I am grateful.
Bynack the Bold - RIP, if you really are gone. A privilege to see him and photograph him last year. Thanks Richard for your sensitive relaying of the news, and the encouragement of Spring 2012 coming to Speyside. Look forward to meeting the new team this year - I am sure you have chosen well again.
Richard I am so sorry to read the news about dear Bynack who had got into all our hearts in a big way. Can quite understand how gutted you feel. Once again it is a reminder that their young life is very precarious. Bynack was my favourite and the fact that I saw him when doing my stint as a volunteer makes this news even sadder for me. Want to be positive about him but it does not look good. Enjoyed reading the rest of your blog and my word your mild weather of late has certainly changed.
Richard,as the others have said, thanks for the update. Such sad news. I am always the optimist but am in two minds now when this happens.
If he is gone, then RIP Bynack the Bold. I'll never forget how surprised I was about his migration,earning him his nickname.
As Tiger says,the tags are doubled edged swords.
Thanks Richard. Even if news is not good i'm sure we all
Prefer to know! We can only hope & maybe he is ok.
Sorry if story confused Tiger. He was seen & ring observed. Confusion was because picture wasnt brilliant & it could have been a Swedish osprey with same ring number.
Thanks Richard for the sad but anticipated news of Bynack. He was a real character and it would have been so good to maybe see how he matured.
Thanks also for your Spring observations and we must now look forward to the 2012 season.
Thank you Richard for letting us know the news, so sad as it is----your beautifully written blog says it all. I shall never forget Bynack, such a fiesty young bird, he gave us so much pleasure. If by chance he is safe and returns to Scotland then we will no doubt hear him coming. !! God Bless.
Yes, we do all prefer to know but my thoughts are on that chance that, like Mallachie, Bynack's tag has just decieded to quit for whatever reason but precious vocal Bynack is still going strong.
Thank you for being up front with us Richard.
Thank you Richard- Sad news of Bynack and I can barely see to write through my tears! I had hoped as reported last week that his stillness was down to the bad weather but having seen his activity on GE I did wonder otherwise.. I did have hope of good news today but as has been said he has brought so many hours of joy last year and we will NEVER forget this amazing Osprey that has won all our hearts!
Thank you Richard for breaking the sad news. My thoughts go out to the LG team. Lets all hope and pray that his tag has fallen off.
Season 2012 is looming.......
Richard thank you for breaking the sad news even thought it is not easy to pallet.
I know I and others are upset but I can imagine how the LG team are feeling also.
Bynack as brought me great joy and I will miss him terribly.
Thank You Richard for breaking the sad news so delicately, you must all be devastated, like all of us are, Bynack was such a feisty wee character, its hard to believe that he is gone, I pray that it is a malfunction of the tag and hope that one day we will hear him back in Scotland.
He brought so much angst (when he lay on his back for so long but eventually found the momentum to get himself righted again), and so much joy when he would make the loudest of noises to get EJ's attention, its very hard to not become emotionally attached to these little ones as we watch them grow into beautiful Osprey's day in day out, so its hard to take the loss of one we loved so much, but he brought so much joy and happiness into so many lives, so I am trying hard to be positive and look forward to this year with great expectations.
Thanks for the sad news Richard. Like everyone else I am gutted that this has happened at this stage after Bynack surviving the migration and a few months into his first year. The weather conditions have been poor in the area where Bynack was living and may have contributed to what has happened. I was wondering if there will be any attempt to retrieve the tag as happened with Joe and Leri and also 11 from the Lake District last year.
Really sorry to hear the news, Richard but hopefully it was the tag falling off as you suggested. Such a shame when he had overcome so many difficulties already. He was such a wee character!