Thanks Alan for some truly wonderful shots!
My photos here (eventually)
Beautiful photos Alan - you are so lucky to see them in the flesh
Currently a total of nine chicks from four active nests at RW.
30(10) IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya beauty!!!!!!!!!. This is the one I have been waiting for.
30 (10) pictured just after he fledged on 21.07.2010:
. . . and 2 weeks later on 05/08/2010. Note the virtually identical underwing pattern in this and John Wright's photo:
Hi Sandy - just had a chance to watch that 'tug-of-war' vid you posted - priceless - thanks
Wonderful news about 30(10), so pleased he's safely back.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
The return rate of 5 out of the 12 fledged chicks from 2010 is much better than the published statistics for 2 year old ospreys.
ALAN PETRIE The return rate of 5 out of the 12 fledged chicks from 2010 is much better than the published statistics for 2 year old ospreys.
Do you have any thoughts on why the return rate is so good? This is nine years of above average returns.
ChloeB and Tiger's data site ? Link to the Important Loch Garten Links
Tiger : I have no idea really. Maybe the translocation created a stronger gene pool which made the subsequent chicks more healthy and adaptable so they could cope better with the migration and survival in Africa. Perhaps they dont all migrate as far as Africa but there is no proof of this. Watching the Manton Bay nest makes me realise that they have a much easier and idyllic lifestyle than say the Loch Garten family. Food is abundant and close at hand and the weather is invariably better.
Two chicks in the sun, one preening, the other helping himself to the remains of a fish.
Sorry to bang an old drum, Tiger, and I have made my feelings on the subject known on another thread, but I would like to point out that these returning chicks are only ringed, and NOT satellite tagged.
Alan Off hand I can only think of two Rutland juveniles that did not have 3 (97) or 05 (00) genes. There may be others but I am not aware of them.
So one possible suggestion is that it is genetic.
One other suggestion is that the move south may have helped the ospreys particularly at migration. It is much easier to get off to a safe migration from Rutland than from Scotland.
It would be really good to know what the experience of newly translocated Spanish population is. They might also benefit from the widely different sources of the ospreys. As far as I am aware they are a mixture of Scottish, German and Finnish birds.
Alan thanks for the wonderful pics from Rutland.
Margobird