THE DURATION OF THE POSTFLEDGING DEPENDENCE PERIOD OF OSPREYS PANDION-HALIAETUS AT LOCH-GARTEN, SCOTLAND

The post-fledging dependence period of Ospreys at Loch Garten, Scotland, lasted an average of 30.4 days (n = 35). During this time fledglings were observed playing with objects, chasing other raptors, practising flight movements related to fishing and flying to fish by themselves. Fish provisioning by the adult male was maintained during the post-fledging period and provisioning rate had no effect on the duration of the post-fledging dependence period. The adult female was usually the first individual to disappear from the nesting area, followed by the fledglings and then the adult male. Observations suggest that the adult male continued providing fish to the nest while the fledglings were in the area and did not promote fledgling independence by stopping fish delivery to the nest.