Bird Watching: Osprey season 2010 - Two chicks in a shallow nest., 0 by MargaretK

MargaretK wrote:
Burn, it's awful seeing the bigger chick repeatedly pecking at its younger, smaller sibling. Behaviour at its most primitive level.

Tiger, I sure hope you're right. There certainly is no shortage of fish. I haven't seen them being fed for four days now. Dad typically arrives with a fish as I'm leaving for home. Additionally, I haven't been able to get a good, front-on look at the smaller chick to see if its crop looks full.

Yesterday, I was convinced that the smaller chick would succumb to the attacks by its older sibling that I was really surprised to see it there this afternoon. The size difference is still very noticeable and the older chick is more active (a worry in itself, with the nest being so shallow). However, each day that goes by is a bonus.

Big Hook was coming and going in her usual manner, although she didn't leave the area until Dad arrived to monitor the nest. Here's Dad, with the bigger chick close by and the poor little battler out on the sidelines. Look hard.