Staff at RSPB Scotland's famous Loch Garten Osprey Centre in Strathspey are anticipating new arrivals to entertain visitors over the course of the bank holiday weekend.
The first of three chicks is expected any time from today (Friday May 22nd) with the others following in quick succession. Proud parent EJ laid three eggs on the 16th, 19th and 22nd of April, and hatching normally occurs between 36 and 42 days after this time.
Together with her new partner, Odin, the pair have been the very model of attentive expectant parents, incubating their eggs round the clock, tidying the nest and bringing back fresh fish suppers at regular intervals.
By visiting the live nest-cam at www.rspb.org.uk/lochgartenlive, people will have an excellent chance of seeing regular female EJ and new male Odin with their new chicks.
Odin is a new face at Loch Garten and arrived on Friday April 3rd. With no identifying leg rings to offer a clue to his origins, staff decided to name him after the chief god of Norse Mythology, because of a possible Scandinavian connection. All osprey chicks generally have an identifying leg ring attached prior to their fledging. Ringing is less common in Scandinavia, so it is thought he may have been passing through on his way home and his roving eye caught sight of EJ and the famous nest.
Richard Thaxton, RSPB Scotland Site Manager at Loch Garten, said: "Because of his lack of identification, we don't know precisely where Odin has come from, but he has certainly managed to impress EJ since his arrival. He has been tireless in his efforts to provide her with food to replenish her energies after the long migration back from north Africa.
"The saga of the Loch Garten osprey's has been pretty tumultuous over the past few years, with failed clutches two years ago, and then the sad deaths of both fledged chicks from last year - one on its journey south to the wintering grounds and one just a few weeks ago in Guinea Bissau. Our satellite tracking technology allowed us to see this and demonstrates just what a challenging ordeal migration is for these fantastic birds.
"Odin really has proved to be a brilliant suitor so far, bring in lots of fresh fish to make sure EJ remains in tip top condition whilst incubating. We really hope that things will go well and we will have three healthy chicks within the next few days to delight and enthrall visitors to the Loch Garten Osrprey Centre."
People can follow the latest developments in the Loch Garten nest on the live webcam: www.rspb.org.uk/lochgartenlive
And the blog: www.http://blogs.rspb.org.uk/lochgartenospreys/