A number of “foreign” Ospreys have been seen in Switzerland this month, most likely immatures returning for the first or second time to Europe,  some of them females. Such birds are not yet territorial and could potentially pair with one of our single males (which already occurred last spring for two weeks).

At least three of these “floaters” were ringed in Germany. From the codes that were able to be read, two are 2-year-olds (see photo above of one of them by Sibylle Zwygart), probably on their first migration back from Africa, and the other is a 3-year-old. The 2-year-olds were born in the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (808 and 858 km away), and the 3 year-old in Sachsen (at 670 km). Many thanks to the Hiddensee ringing centre for sending this information so rapidly.

In the meantime our males continue to display and carry branches to recharge platforms or build a nest, one of them being seen flying with one of these “unsettled” females. While we have not yet found a breeding pair in Switzerland, there is still time – until August – for a pair to form.

Concerning our females, they remain ahead of our males. Dominique Lorentz told us on 14 May that Mouche (PR4) and her partner were feeding at least two small chicks on the same nest as in the last few years in Moselle (France). And Daniel Schmidt-Rothmund has just announced that Chronos (ex-PS9) and her male have hatched probably three chicks at their nesting platform in Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany).