Parental Duties

For those of you wondering how our Usk Valley osprey chick got on after hatching yesterday, here’s a little update.

The chick, having spent 38 days being incubated, emerged from its shell as all chicks do, wet and exhausted. Clogwyn kept it warm, allowing only a brief glimpse from time to time, so that by late morning it was ready to put its head up and beg for food, cheeping to increase the chance of getting its mother’s attention. This worked just as nature had designed it to and the chick was rewarded with its first morsel of fish. 

There would be other brief attempts to feed during the day. Syfaddan had made sure the nest was supplied with fish and Clogwyn adjusted to the onset of motherhood by eating on the nest, for now at least. 

There were two occasions in the day when at least one intruding osprey threatened the nest and the safety of the chick. On the second of these, Syfaddan was absent and it was left to Clogwyn to make herself look as fierce as possible, unwilling to give chase and leave the chick unattended. She spread her wings wide and let out ear piercing disturbed calls, as the intruder flew over the nest twice and then came close a third time. But Clogwyn won the day and peace was restored. The chick had witnessed its first battle, while peeping out from under its mothers feathers.

Clogwyn holds the fort

A couple more brief mouthfuls of fish were had during the afternoon and as early evening arrived the chick was ready for a full-on banquet - lasting a whole 7 minutes.