THEIRS has been a torrid affair, blighted by jealousy, adultery and infanticide, all played out under intense public scrutiny.
And next month, a new chapter is due to start in the soap opera that is the relationship between the Loch Garten ospreys.
EJ the osprey – the love cheat in this avian love triangle – has flown 3,000 miles from West Africa to nest at the centre nea
r Aviemore.
The 11-year-old is awaiting the return of her sweetheart, Henry, having apparently forgiven him for destroying the eggs she had by another bird.
Last year, when Henry delayed his return from Africa, she mated with another osprey by the name of VS, an affair widely covered in the national media.
VS developed a reputation as a ladies' "man" at other sites he temporarily settled in around the country.
EJ and Henry have mated at the Highlands centre for five years, and footage from cameras monitoring their secret nest site has been shown to visitors.
Now the RSPB has bought a webcam to stream the daily drama onto the internet for bird fans everywhere.
Richard Thaxton, RSPB Scotland site manager at Loch Garten said: "EJ has had her ups and downs here at Loch Garten, and we're delighted to have her back.
"I'm sure everyone remembers the saga last year, where she laid two different clutches to two different fathers, although sadly not one chick survived.
"She has successfully reared young at Loch Garten in two of her five previous seasons with us and we are really hoping that she can get back to form this year.
"Her regular mate, Henry, is probably en route from West Africa, and we hope he arrives soon so the pair can settle down to breed."
Ospreys were wiped out as a nesting species in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries because they were seen as a pest, with the final birds being killed during the early 1900s.
However, with more enlightened modern attitudes to birds of prey, supported by protection laws, the species has been reintroduced since the 1950s, with Loch Garten the launch pad for a revival.
Since then, more than 70 young have been reared at the eyrie and more than two million nature lovers have visited the RSPB centre overlooking it.
Meanwhile, a population of 160-plus pairs has spread across Scotland and into England.
Mr Thaxton added: "You can't beat seeing these birds in real life in terms of a wildlife experience, and many thousands of people visit Loch Garten each year to see the ospreys, as well as other species like Scottish crossbill, crested tit, capercaillie and red squirrel which we have here.
"But for the first time, we're pleased to be offering people around the world the chance to keep up with the ospreys here via a live webcam."
Footage will be available at the RSPB website from Monday.
The full article contains 489 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
