Fledgling drama

Screenshots from Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Screenshots include views of fish prey, and fighting between osplets.

Continuing from the previous post, a fledgling from a different nest turned up today, and has been getting into conflict with the resident two chicks Lumme and Utu. The visiting fledgling (VF) scored a fish delivery, and spent a long time eating it at the nest.

After watching from the balcony branch for a while, Lumme flies to the nest.

VF does not approve.

Lumme gets quickly shown the door.

Utu tries, too, but gets shoo'd away. He didn't land.

VF has eaten enough for now, and feaks its beak clean.

And then leaves.

Utu gets the rest of the fish!

He takes it off the nest with him. Good call.

Lumme arrives.

She finds some leftover fish pieces on the nest floor and eats them.

But what's that approaching?

Oh, there's VF again.

VF throws Lumme out of the nest. Seems it doesn't want to share its new food source.

Eura brings a fish, and Lumme is quick to follow him to claim it.

...And VF is quick to follow Lumme.

Lumme mantles and screams at VF and is determined to keep the fish, though.

Both scream at Utu as he approaches.

Utu decides it's for the best not to stick around.

Utu flying in the background on the right. He landed on a treetop nearby.

Lumme eats, VF watches.

"Thinking of trying something?"

"You'd better not!"

Utu lands in the nest, but VF drives him away again.

And won't leave Lumme alone, either.

Lumme retreats to the edge of the nest, but won't relinquish the fish.

Eventually VF leaves, and Lumme gets to eat her fish in peace.

Utu drops by later. Lumme keeps him away from the fish, but lets him stay at the nest. She took the rest of the fish with her when leaving, perhaps to her sleeping tree already.

Quite the intense day! We'll see what twists tomorrow brings. VF has been pretty disruptive to Lumme and Utu's rather laid-back routine, but perhaps dealing with it was - and perhaps will continue to be - good practice for the wider world, where knowing how to fight for your food or sneak resources from under stronger opponents will be necessary. Good on both of them for still securing a meal despite the circumstances. And excellent survival skills VF has, too; maybe some day it'll use these moves to evict intruders from its own territory to defend its chicks. Barging in to someone else's nest and snatching away food meant for the chicks who hatched there may seem scummy by human standards, but all's fair in bird world that's for birds.