I found Greg's comments that Osprey 'mate for life', interesting. I live in
Nakusp, BC, Canada. We have a good population of local Osprey, that migrate to
Central and South America in the winter. Migratory Osprey apparently do not
mate for life. They migrate separately and appear to have no deliberate
contact during the non-breeding season. In the spring, they return to their
breeding territory. Since they are both returning to the same breeding
territory, they often do 'continue' their relationship, simply because they are
once again in close proximity. This is different to species like Canada Geese
and Bald Eagles, that truly do mate for life and remain together all year
round. Would I be correct in saying that the Ospreys in Australia are
non-migratory? If so they certainly could remain together year round since
they remain in the territory. The Osprey living in Florida are apparently
non-migratory, but I'm not sure if they exhibit this 'mate for life'
behaviour. I also understand that the Ospreys have recently been 'split' by
some authorities. If the Aus species as now distinct from the NA species,
perhaps this might explain these behavioural differences?
Gary
Greg & Val Clancy <> wrote:
Hi Max,
As tourists love to hear stories like the Radjah Shelduck one guides sometimes
embellish the facts and I doubt that there is any truth to it. It may be true
that some species of birds 'mate for life' but once one bird dies the other one
usually finds another mate. That is not to say that a certain amount of 'grief'
doesn't occur. I know as a scientist that I shouldn't be talking this way but
science's ideas about bird's intelligence and emotions are changing as time
proceeds.
I have studied Ospreys and Black-necked (Satin) Storks and have found that both
of these species, while apparently 'mating for life' do find new partners in
the event of a partner's death. Divorce, although rare, also does occur.
HANZAB states re. the Radjah Shelduck "sustained monogamous; pair bonds
probably lifelong."
Greg Clancy
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