What a difference two weeks makes! Our tiny osprey chick is long gone and in its place a strong dark downy youngster growing like a weed. Just compare these two photographs of day one and today:

Then:

 

And now:

 

 Q: Can a baby chick eat too much?  Could overfeeding be a problem?  He looks so fat he can’t hardly move!!! Or is that just normal for his young age?

A: I don’t think it’s possible for a chick to eat too much- but undoubtedly it will grow faster and developed stronger on this rich diet. You are right in that all young osprey chicks are a bit uncoordinated and wobbly0- thy have yet to grow into their enormous feet.

 Q: Why is Roy Denis’s chick Rohtiemurchus hanging around Loch of the Lowes so much?

A: this young bird is just coming up to breeding age and I looking for his won nest. He has begun to favour the area around Dunkeld and ballinlug so we hope he finds a site next year to begin a family.

This area is prime osprey territory, with two of Scotland finest fishing rivers converging nearby and numerous lochs around the hills. Perthshire is also ‘Big Tree Country’ giving it more than average numbers of Osprey nesting sites.

 Your ranger Emma will be away for the next 10days so look out for some exiting guest Blogs from other members of the staff and volunteer team at Loch of the Lowes.

Ranger Emma