This taken from todays 'Herald' newspaper.
' IT seemed so simple: girl meets boy and they set up home together. But then another fellow comes along, and things grow complicated.
A female osprey found herself with a choice of partners yesterday, and a tough decision: will there be chicks this year?
EJ raised three chicks last year, but this time around she has been having man trouble after laying one egg in the nest.
The drama is being played out before hundreds of enthralled visitors to the RSPB Osprey centre at Loch Garten, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of ospreys returning to Scotland last year.
EJ – the name on her identification ring – arrived at the nest at 6pm on March 29, after a 3000-mile flight from West Africa to Strathspey.
Then Orange VS, an old flame, arrived on April 4, when his gift of fish was accepted and mating was allowed.
However, an unringed male arrived last Thursday, with his sights on EJ's heart.
The unidentified osprey even delivered sticks and moss, but EJ – staying faithful to her first choice VS – spurned him again and again, while he and VS battled across the air.
Her decision apparently made, she then laid her egg, usually one of three, on Friday.
But by then both males had given up. It is suspected VS has another bird, while the mysterious newcomer had resigned himself to his loveless fate.
EJ, despite sub-zero temperatures, remained on the nest, awaiting the return of VS.
It proved to be a forlorn hope, and RSPB officials knew that she would have to leave the nest soon to feed, and the egg would not be incubated.
Richard Thaxton, senior site manager at the RSPB centre, said at the weekend: "It is sad for EJ. It is very rare for an osprey to re-lay after coming off an egg. EJ and VS seemed a happy couple but he has disappeared.
"I don't know if the other male spooked him, but I do know he is a bit of a rake.
"He may have another female. He may even be keeping his options open and come back in due course."
Then, yesterday, when all looked lost, a fresh suitor, 8T, arrived, and another unknown – possibly the newcomer back again – appeared.
8T appeared to be winning the battle for EJ's affections, as she was calling on him to bring some dinner over.
After 8T's apparent victory, Mr Thaxton was more optimistic.
He said: "All could still be well for her. Even the first egg might be viable if only she started to sit on it again."
Female ospreys spend 40 days on the nest being fed by their partners.
EJ's partner last year was Henry V who has not been seen this year. She was with VS in 2003, although forced off the nest by another female.
Ospreys were once widespread, but became extinct in Scotland in 1916.
Their absence was broken in 1954 when a pair nested near Loch Garten. Since 1959, ospreys have arrived every year – raising more than 70 young.
The young fly in July and migrate to Africa in August, when their parents also leave. '