30 November 2024
Hello Everyone,
Roy Dennis is visiting Port Lincoln to give a talk and to witness Ian Falkenberg ringing Wilko and Kasse. Oh, how I wish I could have gone to the dinner and talk with Roy Dennis. Those attending are in for a real treat. 221 watching. Great narrative by Bart M on chat.
Wilko really seems to like humans and Kasse pancaked just like a good little osplet should. She listened to Mum’s instructions. And the weather could not be better!
Wilko is a boy. Males have white on right and red on left leg
Kasse is a female. She has pink right green left.
(Oh, I called it right for once. It is good to have a female after the loss of Solly and Zoe. I hope Kasse has a long life and produces many, many chicks.
Both osplets received satellite trackers. This is wonderful so that we can compare their behaviour post-fledge.
Some images:
Wilko standing right up and Kasse pancaked.
This is where the chicks are being ringed on the Calypso Star.
Janet (Red hair and glasses) and Fran talking to Roy while Ian Falkenberg attaches the tracker.
Kasse is getting her tracker.
Roy Dennis. Google him if you don’t know who he is because you should know.
Mum on the mast waiting for the babies to be returned to the nest and to have a fish feast.
Fisheries came to check on what was going on and to say hello.
Dad moves to the perch anticipating fish dinner???
On the old barge later. Five Cormorants (or more) kept Dad company. It is hard waiting! These are Australian Pied Cormorants. Note the white unlike the all brown Double-crested Cormorants in North America.
Do you know your Cormorants?
Wilko and Kasse are home! And look who is standing up!
Mum is just landing back on the nest and she will get to see her kids with all their accessories. Nope. She flew off.
Kids say: “We are Big Kids now”. We can feed ourselves. Kasse is going for it. She is hungry. Wilko looks defiant. How dare you stitch a suitcase on my back and put jewellery on my legs!!!!!!!!!
Thank you to the folks at Port Lincoln Ospreys for streaming this great event in the lives of these ospreys and for ensuring through the fish fairy their survival. Thank you to eBird for the information on Cormorants.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MY NEXT BLOG WILL BE SUNDAY MORNING DECEMBER 2.
Thank you Mary Ann! So glad there is a brother and sister ❤️❤️
Yes, it is a wonderful outcome! So happy. Let us hope that Kasse stays safe.
A huge thank you to all at Port Lincoln for their interventions at this nest. I’m sure the Fish Fairy is loved by osprey enthusiasts around the world. These gorgeous nestlings are healthy and will fledge thanks to the concern and care of all associated with this nest, and we will actually get to track their progress once they fledge. Apart from anything else, this is smart marketing. No-one wants to watch osplets starve or kill each other on a nest, and everyone loves the opportunity to follow the osplets as they make their own way in the world. I would be very surprised if this nest didn’t become extremely popular watching as word of its successes spreads.
I am not at all surprised to see that you were spot on in your assessment of the genders on this nest. Kasse is such a sweetie. I love how wide-eyed she always is as she pancakes. And Wilko is such a brave wee man, standing firm in the face of The Hat and now up on his feet to face the banders. And how wonderful that they both have trackers. We hope darling Kasse finds a suitable mate and raises many chicks with him. Question: Do they recognise (and avoid for mating purposes) their own siblings?
Of course, I’m not entirely sure how long we have had the same parents at this nest. It’s possible at least one of these parents is new, which would mean Kasse is unlikely to be closely related to, say, Ervie. But I am only guessing about that.
Also, I know with peregrines that the males stay relatively close to their natal nest whereas the females disperse much greater distances. Is this also true for ospreys or will Kasse be just as likely to hang around Port Lincoln as a couple of males from this nest have in previous years?
Harking back to yesterday’s blog and the amazing news that Laysan albatross Wisdom has an egg at Midway Atoll, we all rejoice in the continued health and vitality of this gorgeous and iconic bird. Whether or not her egg is fertile, we will have to wait and see. Does a young mate mean she is more likely to have a fertile egg? Does her age make a fertile egg less likely?
And speaking of albatrosses, eggs are also being laid at Taiaroa Head, and the Royal Cam couple has been chosen for this season: mum GLG (Green Lime Green) and dad RLK (Red Lime Black). Dad is 12 years old and mum is 14. They have been together since 2019/20, when their first egg failed, but they have since raised two chicks successfully (2021 and 2023), both females. Their egg this year was laid on 11 November and is fertile (it has been candled).
The nest they have chosen is at the Signal Station Trig site. (Readers will remember this nest from a previous season – SS Trig was a very feisty chick.) This egg will be incubated for about 77 days before hatching in late January. Meanwhile, last season’s chicks are making great progress towards South America (many have already reached the Chilean coast) – the trackers on the Northern Royal Albatross site allow you to follow their incredible journey.