Osprey chicks ‘facing death’

Three osprey chicks at a Highlands wildlife reserve face starvation after their father's failure to return to the nest with fish.

Odin has been absent for the past few days, leaving his mate EJ alone with their newly hatched chicks.

RSPB Scotland says it would be wrong to intervene in the situation at Loch Garten near Grantown on Spey.

It says the birds, which migrate to Scotland to breed, are in their natural habitat.

Their latest clutch of three eggs hatched over the past few days – the last on Saturday.

However, staff and volunteers at the reserve suspect a young male osprey may have frightened off Odin.

EJ's instinct is to remain with her young at the nest, which has come under attack from two ospreys.

“Feelings are running high concerning EJ and chicks”

The RSPB has set out an explanation to why it will not intervene and feed the chicks in its Loch Garten blog.

Jess Tomes, the reserve's site manager, wrote: “We are all acutely aware here at Loch Garten, that feelings are running high concerning EJ and her (now three) chicks.

“Odin's disappearance has caused all sorts of heart-wrenching issues and we do understand the strength and depth of the reaction.

“We have already stated that we will not intervene and supply fish to the nest. RSPB has a policy of non-intervention in the breeding efforts of pairs of nesting birds.”

She added: “The ospreys at Loch Garten are in their natural habitat. They are not animals in a zoo; they are wild and free, and susceptible to both the welcome and also adverse changes in circumstances of life.”