UNHATCHED EGGS

Both the Gilestone parents, Clogwyn (female) and Syfaddan (male) continue to be textbook parents for their single chick. Presence on the nest full-time keeps the chick safe and the male regularly brings in fish for the family.

There have been challenges, of course, but as first-time breeders they are doing remarkably well. Elsewhere in the UK others have done less well. There have also been challenges for the UVO trained Watchers and the enquiring public especially regarding ‘will those remaining eggs hatch’? It is now over a week since the first hatch date (2nd June) and so UVO now believe that the remaining eggs will not hatch. This is a common occurrence – indeed, laying of three eggs here was something of a surprise in the first instance.

Interruptions to incubation have not been an issue thanks to the diligence of local land-owners and advice received regarding activity-restriction zones. A clue may be provided through the observations and frequency of matings on the nest by UVO trained Watchers (NB: wide margin of error):

Recorded ‘successful’ matings in the preceding three days:

By 24th April (first egg laid) = 27

By 27th April (second egg laid) = 16

By 30th April (third egg laid) = 4

We suspect that the hatched egg was the first to be laid. It may be possible to analyse the unhatched eggs.

Many first-time breeders do not rear chicks at all, and, although it is early days, it is very encouraging that Clogwyn and Syfaddan have got to this point. Nothing in nature is assured, so the focus of attention now must be on maintaining the single chick. UVO, in common with most other Osprey sites in the country, have no plans to name the chick but will strive to ring the chick in the nest to assist in what we all hope will be long-term monitoring of the first Usk Valley chick.