Sleeping and eating arrangements

Satakunnan sääkset nest #3. Beautiful sunrise wing stretches by Myy this morning, after her second night spent outside the nest.

An unexpectedly shared meal two days ago. Ahti brought Myy a fish, which she started eating independently, and soon after Nuppu also flew to the nest with a fish of her own.

Myy seemed a bit unsure at first whether she should be defending her own fish or trying to steal Nuppu's, but eventually they each ate their own fish side by side.

Nuppu still fed Myy a few bites. Moms will be moms.

Myy getting ready for bed. The previous night she still slept at the nest, but this time Nuppu wasn't on the camera keeping her company. It seems that having it made clear that staying in the nest means being all alone out in the open did the trick, and this following evening Myy decided to seek out a roosting tree.

Leaving her without a guard right at the nest the previous night had its risks, but Nuppu was on the camera when the owl attacked Myy, and she still couldn't do anything to help, so the nest is not a safe place at night now even with a parent.

Myy finds a sleeping tree at the left edge of the camera frame. Nuppu is in the watch tree on the right. Ahti might be in the watch tree in the middle, but I'm not sure. Either way he should be roosting nearby. They don't go far from each other, but it's safer to spread out instead of all sleeping in the same tree and drawing attention.

Myy is the white speck at the center of the image.

Returning to the nest in the morning. Good job, Myy! First night in a tree!

A moose with a calf spotted in the background at 5:36 the same morning.

All three present for an afternoon territory defense. Ahti on the left covering Myy, Nuppu on the right covering the fish that probably drew the intruder near the nest. Some ospreys are already migrating, and might be interested in stopping for an unattended snack along the way. Fledglings are also going on adventures, but they might cause less alarm. I doubt Myy would tolerate a fledgling from another clutch coming to her nest for food if she was present (she would guard her food from siblings, too, if she had any), not sure how fussed the parents might be about it if Myy isn't there to take the food, as a fledgling is not going to be trying to take the territory, too.

Alert over.

Myy on her first visit this morning. I think she slept in the same tree as the previous night.

Later in the morning, a flock of black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) fly past the nest and Myy.

Nuppu brings a new stick to the nest. Myy ducks out of the way.

Fish delivery!

Ahti has barely landed when Myy has already grabbed the fish.

Myy mantles, and Ahti leaves her to eat in peace.

The peace gets interrupted by intruder alert.

Myy pancakes herself on top of the fish, and Ahti flies back to the nest to protect her.

Myy stays down as things calm down, but then she notices Ahti looking down and picking at what I think was a piece of fish she had dropped in the nest.

My fish!

It's tough being a raptor parent; you bring your chick food and risk getting your toes bitten in the process of handing it over, you protect your chick from fish thieves and get treated as a fish thief yourself. That's how juvenile raptors need to be, though, as life is going to be tough for them, too, and they need to be ready to be alone against the world a few months from hatching. Myy is being an excellent osprey fledgling by being horrible to her parents, and Ahti is an excellent osprey dad by not discouraging the behavior.

Myy ate a bit more while mantling and screaming, but had to keep checking that dad is staying at a respectful distance, and soon wanted him to leave altogether.

And stay away! ...Until you bring me more fish.