Politics of keeping a fish

Screenshots from yesterday afternoon at Sääksilive Osprey nest #1. Screenshots include views of fish prey, I'm not counting the behavior shown between the fledglings as fighting.

Fish delivery.

Fish delivery entourage.

Lumme and Ulpukka fly in to claim the fish, and have a tugwar over it.

Or try to. Lumme, that's a toe.

After some squabbling, Ulpukka gets the fish, and Lumme leaves the nest.

Ulpukka eating, Lumme is perched in a tree in the background, a little to the right from the center of the screen. The latter picture shows her spreading her wings.

But a fish in the nest attracts more uninvited dinner guests than just Ulpukka herself, too. The chicks sound an intruder alert.

Oh, hello again, TXP.

Lumme and Utu fly to the nest, Utu lands.

Lumme flies after TXP to shoo him off the territory.

Utu and Ulpukka defend the nest together.

Ulpukka goes pancake mode, which is another instinctual reaction for chicks to an intruder alert. She's also partially covering the fish.

How are you doing back there? (Ulpukka or the fish? Probably the fish.)

Lumme and TXP flying at top left, Lumme is the one higher up.

That'll teach him!

Well, probably won't. A fish you don't have to catch yourself is a tempting relatively-free meal, and it's natural for an animal to want to try their luck at getting that whenever they spot it. But this nest is clearly well defended even if the parents were away, so fish retained this time.

Now that that's dealt with, Ulpukka would like to not share the fish with Utu, either. Also a natural behavior; having him defend the nest at her side was beneficial, but another osprey near your food is still competition.

Just a little posturing, Utu knows to act submissive.

That's... not pecking, either... what are you doing?

Oh, feaking. Did she just wipe her beak clean on his back? :D

Utu makes a little too sudden of a move, and gets booted out. Compared to a few days ago, though, this was a pretty calm fish dispute between the longer term and recently moved in residents.

Ulpukka eats her fill, and leaves the rest of the fish in the nest.

Lumme flies in to claim it.

Utu also flies to the nest. Lumme squees at him, but lets him stay. He can hang out so long as he keeps a respectful distance from the 🐟

Incoming Ulpukka.

Lumme shields her fish, and Utu keeps his head down, but she leaves both alone, so they leave her alone.

Ulpukka gets closer to Lumme.

But leaves without trying to take the fish. Utu leaves soon after, but returns.

Now 🐟? Finally right moment for 🐟?

🐟!!!

Lumme has a full crop, Utu's turn to eat.

Which he gets to do in peace, with both nestmates already fed.