Home   News   Article

Still no sign of Odin near Cairngorms nest


By Mike Merritt

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Happier times at the famous Loch Garten nest
Happier times at the famous Loch Garten nest

A male osprey whose disappearance led to the deaths of his three chicks remains missing, the RSPB has confirmed.

Until he vanished on May 18, Odin had been a long-time mate of EJ, and was bringing fish to their Highland nest.

The pair were the most successful breeding pair at RSPB Loch Garten near Boat of Garten.

The RSPB believe he was scared off by a stronger male or died after becoming entangled in fishing line, something that almost killed him in 2009.

Odin had been catching fish to feed his latest brood and also EJ, who was guarding against rival ospreys who would have killed the young and taken over the nest if given a chance.

However, the chicks died shortly after Odin’s disappearance because of a lack of food.

EJ has since been catching fish for herself while continuing to defend the nest she has used in her many breeding seasons at the wildlife reserve.

Some of the intruding males and females trying to seize the nest site have rings on their legs, allowing RSPB Scotland to identify where they have flown in from.

They include Blue HS8, a three-year-old originally from the Isle of Bute, and an osprey known as Blue CT6 - understood to be a female from Aberdeenshire.

Jess Tomes, of RSPB Scotland, said: "There have been others, but we don’t have details on them yet.

"These birds will be looking for a nest site - probably young birds wanting to establish a territory."

All the ospreys will migrate 3000 miles south to places including west Africa later in the year.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More