Wing and prayer fail to save young osprey

WHEN Deshar the osprey took off on an epic 3,000-mile journey from Scotland to North Africa, he was guided by noth-ing but his instincts.

But those instincts deserted him on the great migration,

and instead of following a direct path across the English Channel the three-month-old bird veer-ed across the Atlantic.

Deshar was tracked by a satellite tag, allowing thousands of bird-watchers to follow his journey, willing him on to safety.

But after flying for 2,000 miles the exhausted bird gave up the fight and is believed to have ditched into the sea, with the tag registering

zero speed and negative altitude.

Deshar was one of three osprey chicks born at Loch Garten this year.

One of his siblings died at birth but the remaining chick, his sister Nethy, has taken an almost perfect route towards North Africa and was last night flying over France.

Richard Thaxton, manager of the RSPB Loch Garten Visitor Centre in the Highlands, where the chicks were born, said it was incredibly sad that Deshar, who was named after a local primary school, had died.

"The satellite data showed, unknown to him of course, that he was heading for the Azores, but he missed the islands and continued on out into mid-Atlantic," he said. "They plunge into the water to catch fish and then take off again; but eventually he ran out of fuel and simply couldn't keep flying."

James Reynolds, spokesman for RSPB Scotland, said: "It shows the perils of migration. This is the most difficult part of their lives.

"They have to make this journey based on instinct, rather than experience, and it is very perilous."

Mr Thaxton described the public outpouring of grief on an RSPB website tracking the bird's progress, which has been visited by 35,000 people, as "phenomenal".

"This has just meant so much to so many people," he said.

He said it was impossible to know why Deshar took the wrong route, and how his sister knew which way to go.

But it was not the first time Deshar had gone in the wrong direction. Shortly after starting the migration from Strathspey on 21 August he headed 70 miles out into the North Sea instead of going south towards England, before realising his mistake and turning back.

Mr Thaxton said possibly it had something to do with Deshar being the younger of the two siblings.

Not only was he born second, but he took his first real flight a day after Nethy, and also set off on the long migration after his sister.

It is the first time ospreys have been tracked on their migration, and scientists hope to learn more about what happens during the journey.

If Nethy makes it to North Africa she will spend about three years there, on what Mr Thaxton called "an extended gap year", before returning to Scotland to breed.



Wings and prayers: Lines on the demise of a so-brave feathered friend

TRIBUTES have been posted on the RSPB's website – www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/lochgartenospreys/index.asp – which has given daily updates about the progress of the birds. Here are a few of their messages:

Oh no! poor Deshar i really cant see the keyboard with tears rolling down …what an impact that little bird has had on us.

Milliec

So so sorry – he gave it a bloody good shot poor thing – I hate nature sometimes cos its so cruel – you just feel so helpless – he taught us a lot though and a lot of people out there now know an awful lot more about ospreys because of this fantastic little family – everything crossed for Nethy.

Wild Freckle

We all hoped for a miracle from Deshar but sadly it was not to be. I will always remember him with fondness.

Col

I didn't have much hope and said my goodbyes to his picture on my computer last night and prayed for a quick parting. The tears won't stop and my toast is very soggy this morning – we will miss you little fellow – you had a big heart. Good luck, Nethy – we are all with you.

Heather K

I'm devastated, what a little battler he was flying till the last. So sad we were all so wanting him to succeed. Hope Nethy makes it ok and comes back to raise her own chicks. These birds are so precious.

gsnowey

It does bring home what a dangerous and chancy thing migration is and what an amazing thing it is that many birds migrate successfully.

mozziecat

I've been following the chicks from the US and this is terrible news. My wife and I feel so sad.

GaryS