Dyfi Osprey Project

[Susanne]

Thank you Seira, I've just found the ringing video on YT. Wonderful! Diolch yn fawr iawn.

[seira]

July 3

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Science Sunday
Paith (Bobby Bach - who turned out to be not so "bach", being the largest chick we've ever weighed on the Dyfi!) watches on as Dad brings in a monster flounder at 06:05 this morning.
Padarn and Paith (chicks 2 and 3) are the heaviest chicks we've ever weighed at this nest; Paith even beating the portly Berthyn back in 2019. Other than genetics playing a role, what would explain this? We have a bit of a Sunday Science hypothesis for you:
You know how we often talk about the optimal weather conditions (Goldilocks weather) - not too cold, hot, wet, windy etc.... Well this year's chicks certainly had a prolonged period of Goldilocks conditions, just at the right time.
Secondly, we didn't see any fault-bars on the tail feathers during ringing. Sometimes periods of hunger can result in characteristic pale lines on the tail feathers, perpendicular to the feather length. There were none.
Then we have calorie-density.
Right at the start of that Rapid Growth Phase a couple of weeks ago, Idris started to bring in many more oily fish, trout. Coincidence?
Think of it as nuts vs broccoli. Both are good for you, but nuts, per unit weight and volume, pack in many more calories than broccoli. Same with trout vs flounder/mullet.
So, in a nutshell (pun intended), this year's chicks are the heaviest we've ever had in 12 years probably due to a combination of factors: perfect weather conditions, Idris' ability to provide a continuous good-quality food supply, possibly some genetic component and probably the experience of Idris and Telyn, who now have several years of raising chicks under their collective belts.
Pedran, Padarn and Paith weighed well over 5kg between them at between four and five weeks old – that's the first time that has ever happened at this nest.


July 2

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So at around five weeks old the chicks are starting to feel the wind underneath their developing wings for the fist time.
Here's a quick clip of our oldest female chick, Pedran, in slow motion.
All three girls will be airborne in two-three weeks.


Susanne

[seira]

Aeron/Z2 and Blue 014

July 9

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Pont Croesor Nest Update.
The Pont Croesor Osprey pair, Blue 014 and Z2/"Aeron", have raised two chicks together this year and both chicks are now clearly visible from the viewing hide and with our two 4K cameras located at Pont Croesor.
The oldest of the two chicks is 33 days old today.
Congratulations to Friends of the Ospreys on another successful nest and to the other organisations involved with this pair of ospreys.






July 11

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The nest perch broke off last night as Idris was landing on it.
Here's the blog and video - can you help make another one?
https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/ ... rch-breaks

[seira]

July 12

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So hands up who was worried that the youngest chick, Bobby Bach, wasn't getting enough to eat a few weeks ago?
Paith seems to be doing just fine all by herself these days...

[seira]

July 13

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Science Sunday (delayed three days!)
Q. Will the intense heat we're having at the moment have a deleterious effect on the chicks fledging?
A. Not really. However, the lack of wind may put them back a few days.
All flying birds predominantly take off into the wind - the different pressures created both above and below their wings creates lift.
That's why an airport runway always has two names – e.g. Runway 08 or Runway 26 (the numbers corresponding to compass bearings; note: subtracting the smallest number from the bigger number always gives you 18, or 180° – a straight line).
So, next time you fly from Gatwick on your holidays (barring any delays!), make a note of the prevailing wind direction; this will determine whether you use Runway 08 (take off to the east) or Runway 26 (take off to the west).
Of course, Pedran, Padarn and Paith already know all this


July 14

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So, the best week of the year has arrived. Over the next seven days we'll see all three chicks take to the skies for the first time.
This is Pedran, the oldest of the three sisters, practising her helicoptering skills last night.
This is the first time that we've had an all-female brood of three in Wales.
We're open every day from 10am – 5pm if you'd like to come and watch these beautiful females fledge with us over the coming days; the weather is lovely too

[seira]

July 15

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We have lift off!!
At 15.05 our eldest chick, Pedran, took to the skies. She completed a full circle and came back to land on the camera pole.









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Below are the key charts to look at for this time of the season: the fledging ages and times of day of all previous 26 Dyfi chicks.
For reference, later on today our class of 2022 all-female brood will be:
51 days old – PEDRAN
50 days old – PADARN
48 days old – PAITH
The average fledging age for the previous 12 females is 52.8 days old.

[seira]

July 16

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It's always a ridiculously special moment to witness a young osprey taking its first ever flight.
Thanks to your investment in our camera and microphone systems, here's a recording of Pedran doing exactly that...

[seira]

July 17

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Science Sunday
Today we start an unprecedented three-day extreme heat weather event in the UK. The temperatures in Wales will be hotter than they are in The Gambia.
That's the first time we've ever written that sentence.
Are we worried about our three youngsters? Yes, a little bit. We've seen ospreys perish in 30C heat before in Wales.
Ospreys get all of their fluids from the fish they eat and adults can shelter in the shade during extremely hot temperatures. Adult ospreys will also drink from water pools when dehydrated.
Neither of these options are available to nest-bound chicks, obviously.
Birds control their core body temperature within a fairly narrow range. For birds that range is usually 37 - 43C (99 - 109 degrees F). Most of the time the ambient temperature is lower than the bird’s body temperature, and the bird’s metabolism produces heat to keep warm. But when the outside air rises to the osprey's body temperature, the bird’s metabolic heat will cause it to get too warm.
Extreme heat can cause physiological changes in a bird's body, which can be dangerous over a prolonged period.
The temperatures are forecast to peak at around 35C on Monday afternoon on the Dyfi. For context, that would be the highest temperature ever recorded anywhere in Wales.
There are a few things going in the osprey's favour, however:
1. Night-time temperatures are mostly below 20C for the three days, allowing the birds to cool off.
2. There is a gentle breeze forecast. The nest is located on an exposed estuary - this will help.
3. Pedran, Padarn and Paith are all now over seven weeks old, meaning they are better able to regulate their own body temperatures compared to a few weeks ago.
4. Fish availability - and therefore hydration - is in good supply thanks to Idris' fishing abilities.
So you know every year we talk about how the first 10 days of life are the most precarious, and how we always hope for Goldilocks weather.... not too cold, hot, wet, windy etc... This extreme heat event is exactly what we hope to avoid.
We'll be monitoring our osprey family very carefully over the next three days - please make sure you keep yourself safe, cool and hydrated also.
Drink plenty of water - we will have plenty available at DOP for staff, volunteers, and visitors alike


family

[seira]

July 18

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Evening Update:
Pedran, Padarn and Paith have experienced the hottest day ever recorded in Wales today - it got over 35C on the Dyfi.
They have started to droop their wings a little, but this is to be expected. They have all eaten well (remember they get their fluids from their food) and their eyes look fine. They are all alert.
Temperatures are on the way down now, at last. They have just one more day of this heat to get through before the weather returns to a more seasonal 20C on Wednesday.


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These birds are hot now as Telyn (left) valiantly tries to shield them from the scorching sun.
All birds are 'gular fluttering' – a form of panting that helps dissipate heat.
Padarn and Paith have still not fledged, there simply aren't any head-winds to aim for their first ever flight.
The temperature just passed 33C, on its way to 35C by late afternoon.




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Hottest Day Ever
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Thankfully the ospreys didn't seem to struggle in 30C temperatures yesterday with Idris bringing plenty of fish - and therefore water - to the nest.
It's forecast to be the hottest day on record today - 35C on the Dyfi.
Thankfully there is a gently breeze which will cool the birds down.
Padarn and Paith (left and centre) are old enough to fledge now. Will they go today in the searing Welsh heat (never said those three words together before), or wait for cooler days?
It's fascinating to contemplate at daybreak this morning what they must be thinking as their older sister gracefully flies around the skies of the nest as if she's been doing it for years...

[seira]

July 19

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GONE!!!!!!!
Padarn flies at 15:07 - she is 53.9 days old.




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NEEEEEEEARLY...
Best pictures of pre-fledge helicoptering we've ever seen - THANK YOU


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All three sisters look alert and perky this morning - just one more day of 30C+ heat to endure while still nest-bound for the younger two.
Pararn and Paith are 54 and 52 days old today – they look ready to fly....

[seira]

Padarn fledged

[seira]

flying around the field

[seira]

incoming



Padarn landing the cam pole

[seira]

July 21

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LIFT-OFF, WE HAVE LIFT-OFF!!!!
Paith flies at 13:49, she is 54.2 days old

[seira]

Paith flying

[seira]

trying to land on the camera ?

[seira]

No... flying over the nest

[seira]

say hello to Mom



say hi to Dad

[seira]

Telyn flew away

finally landing on the camera

then Monty's perch

[seira]

Paith