Another Osprey Chick dies....down to one!

[EricD]

Well we started out with 3 chicks on April 4th or 5th. One died about 12 days into life from lack of food due to the other 2 hogging all the food, but the first born is very aggressive. He has been pecking the hell out of the second one never allowing him to get food. Little guy died from starvation and heat exhaustion yesterday about 2:00. Funny how you get attached to these guys, now we are down to one (unless he commits suicide for basically killing his siblings).


This was from 2 days ago (little guy on the right is the one that died)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h263/xmobe540/_ECD4680-copy800.jpg

Yesterday an hour before death...the 2 gaze at one another
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h263/xmobe540/_ECD4597-copy800.jpg

Little guy expiring on the right side as big sibling watches!
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h263/xmobe540/_ECD5108-copy800.jpg

[polymoog]

Awww :( But you can really see the difference in size between them, not so suprising that the weaker one couldn't keep up in the end ... is it normal for only one osprey chick to survive like this?

[doenoe]

wow, thats harsh. Great captures of the sad happening though.
What happened with the chick that past away?

[Terri]

Wow - I was hoping that after #1 took out his other sibling, that would be enough. :shock: I wonder if they are always that aggressive as chicks? Clearly, the mother had no problem with the little killer, as she basically sat there at Day 12 and did nothing to intervene.

Survival of the fittest - with parental approval? :hmm:

Great captures - crisp, clear, with quite a riveting story to tell. Excellent work! :thumbup:

[Antarctican]

Yes, the series certainly tells a poignant and sad story. Nature is harsh.

(Do the adults just toss the corpse out of the nest?)

[EricD]

Yes, the series certainly tells a poignant and sad story. Nature is harsh.

(Do the adults just toss the corpse out of the nest?)

nope...they stay until the decay away.