“Over to Dad”

 With our female osprey’s departure to African pastures for the winter, the two juveniles have been left in dads care at Loch of the Lowes. This is the normal pattern- the female invariably leaves first and the male stays behind to ‘supervise’ the teenagers. We believe his instinct to provide for his offspring lingers and that there is a certain amount of ‘demonstration’ in fishing technique going on too. Whilst most of the young bird’s training in life skills seems to be instinctive, there can be no harm in watching an adult expert at it to give them some ideas!

 As Rinchen mentioned yesterday, the youngsters need for fish is plateauing as there incredible growth spurt is levelling out. We are also about to enter the ‘tough love’ stage when the male begins to taper off the fish he brings in, to encourage the youngsters to fish for themselves. By later this month the male too will head south and the youngsters will be alone in the world (gulp!).

So our males role as ‘super -dad’ is entering its last phase. Aren’t we grateful he has turned out to be such a wonderful first time father! It seems an age ago we were doubting him back in spring, shouting at him neglecting the eggs- I eat my words. Emma Rawling

 Perthshire Ranger