THREE helpless osprey chicks at a Highlands wildlife reserve face starvation after their father failed to return to the nest with vital supplies of fish.
Staff and volunteers at the Loch Garten RSPB Scotland reserve, near Grantown-on-Spey, fear the father called Odin might not return after he is believed to have been frightened off by the arrival of a young male osprey.
Odin vanished several days ago leaving his mate EJ alone with their newly hatched chicks.
However, the RSPB Scotland says it would be wrong to intervene in the situation.
The RSPB said that it is EJ’s instinct to remain with her young at the nest, which has recently come under attack from two ospreys.
The wildlife charity said that the birds, which migrate to Scotland from Africa to breed every April, are in their natural habitat while nestling in trees.
EJ and Odin are the RSPB reserve’s most successful breeding pair; EJ, who is 20 years old this year, has been visiting Loch Garten for 15 years and has reared 25 chicks over that time with mate Odin and other males.
The first chick hatched on Tuesday evening and the others followed over the course of the week, with last one emerging from its egg on Thursday.
On the charity’s blog it explained how it was important not to intervene, no matter how heartbreaking it is to witness.
The RSPB stated in its osprey blog: “Sometimes nature is hard to watch and it doesn’t always work out. This can be difficult to witness and accept.
“We share in everyone else’s disappointment and sadness when that happens, we really do, but we feel that human intervention in a natural process is not the correct course of action, morally or scientifically.
“We are all acutely aware here at Loch Garten, that feelings are running high concerning EJ and her (now three) chicks.
“We wouldn’t be human if they weren’t.
“Odin’s disappearance has caused all sorts of heart-wrenching issues and we do understand the strength and depth of the reaction. We feel it too.”
“We have already stated that we will not intervene and supply fish to the nest. This is a decision we have not taken lightly.
“Odin has been a wonderful partner and provider for EJ and their chicks over the years.
“His disappearance coincides with a much younger male arriving.”
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