Polygyny update....

I have been checking nests 3-4 days a week but can't seem to find the time or inspiration to write the stories!  I do want to fill you in a bit tho....earlier this year I wrote about polygyny (one male, two females) among Ospreys. I shared my historic observations with Emyr Evans in Wales too since Monty, the male on the Dyfi nest, was engaging in this behavior. Most of you probably know that one of Monty's nests failed, as is usually the case. Now I can report that our male, who has done this for the third time this year, has successfully hatched chicks on both nests. His primary nest hatched ten days to two weeks ago and I have been starting to count heads there...at least two chicks. The secondary nest has just hatched in the past week, and the chick or chicks are too young to see yet, but we can tell by the adults behavior that they are feeding at least one chick. The secondary nest definitely gets less attention....the other nest is fed first and probably more often and he tends to hang out there more frequently. But clearly he is giving enough attention and providing enough food for at least one egg to have hatched. We did find him perched near the secondary nest this past weekend. We are expecting some hot weather in the next few days and this can be hard on the newly hatched chicks since they can't thermoregulate at first. The only fluid they get is from the fish, so regular feelings are extremely important to their survival. I hope he is able to provide enough fish for them all to remain hydrated. The secondary nest failed last year (eggs didn't hatch since the female had to leave them unattended to feed herself.) However, in 2013 he attended two nests that each fledged three chicks! He is quite an interesting male! In 2015 he established the secondary nest much closer to his primary nest than was the case in 2013. We will be watching closely to see if chicks fledge successfully from both nests. Polygyny is a breeding strategy this is not often successful among Ospreys, but it's so fascinating that this male has done it successfully and continues to engage in polygyny repeatedly.