An osprey with an eye for the birds is ruffling feathers among wildlife-watchers – by stringing along two mates on two different nests.
The male, nicknamed Drunkie by Forestry Commission Scotland rangers, arrived back in Perthshire’s Trossachs district from his annual 3,000-mile migration from Africa before his regular mate, Katrine.
He got straight down to the business of mating with a new female, known as Arklet – only to apparently ditch her when Katrine finally winged in.
The pair set up a nest under the watchful eye of a CCTV camera linked back to the Commission’s visitor centre near Aberfoyle and the female laid two eggs, both of which have hatched.
But now rangers have discovered Drunkie has a secret second home nearby, where Arklet appears to be incubating another clutch of eggs.
Lucy Tozer, wildlife information and education officer for the Aberfoyle Ospreys, said the feathered Romeo could be storing up problems for himself.
“Male ospreys work extremely hard to feed their families, and they have to provide for the female as well so that the chicks aren’t left alone on the nest,” she said.
“We do know that Drunkie has been bringing in plenty of big fish, but there are lots of factors to consider, including the weather.
“We’ll all certainly be watching with bated breath.”
The saga is being captured on camera and relayed live to the Lodge Forest visitor centre in Aberfoyle.
Duncan Orr-Ewing from RSPB Scotland, said: “One male osprey with two females is not unheard of, but it is very unusual, and it may well be the first time that it’s been caught on camera like this.
“If there’s plenty of fish all season, then the male might manage to get both broods to fledge. But if things don’t turn out so well, he may have to give up on one of them, or the females may have to fish as well, which can leave the chicks vulnerable.”