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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/eagleosprey160526bs.jpg\")
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There is no love lost between ospreys and eagles, so when one encounters a scene of mutual animosity, it isn’t always clear what was\u00a0the immediate cause of the\u00a0confrontation. Indeed, the first sighting\u00a0was confusing for it looked as if two ospreys were harassing a disabled\u00a0eagle. Maybe the eagle had broken a wing and the ospreys just chose to taunt it.<\/p>\n
The emerging story proved far different: the eagle had stolen a fish from the ospreys, and they were desperately\u00a0trying to get it back.<\/p>\n
Ospreys and eagles have somewhat different capabilities. Ospreys are superb fishers and are able to dive into the water to a depth of about a metre, catch a fish, emerge and fly off with it. As such, they can capture fish over a greater range of depths than can an eagle, which merely sweeps\u00a0its claws below the water surface\u00a0as it flies by. However, the\u00a0eagle is a much larger\u00a0bird and will often supplement\u00a0its own food supply by bullying an\u00a0osprey into dropping its catch so as to steal it. Needless to say, ospreys react rather badly to such treatment. And that reaction is what I encountered. (What the fish thinks about all of this remains undocumented.)<\/p>\n
When\u00a0spotted,\u00a0it looked as if two ospreys were harassing an eagle that couldn’t fly. Actually, it could easily fly, but had chosen a\u00a0defensible position on a\u00a0breakwater with its back to some pilings. The eagle would tuck the fish out of reach between logs, and the pilings prevented an attack\u00a0from the rear.
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The two ospreys\u00a0made\u00a0repeated threatening passes, and the eagle\u00a0always\u00a0responded defensively while continuing to\u00a0clutch its prize with\u00a0one claw.
\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/eagleosprey160526cs.jpg\")
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In my favourite view of the drama, the eagle has secured the fish in a gap between logs and then rears up to defend itself as an osprey screams past with claws extended. Ultimately, the ospreys failed to breach the eagle’s defences and left the eagle alone to feast.
\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/eagleosprey160526as2.jpg\")
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There is no love lost between ospreys and eagles, so when one encounters a scene of mutual animosity, it isn’t always clear what was\u00a0the immediate cause of the\u00a0confrontation. Indeed, the first sighting\u00a0was confusing for it looked as if two … Continue reading