GIBA Eagles in Review, Part 3

VICIOUS OSPREY ATTACKS

Week of April 17

So things have been going along quite swimmingly for our GIBA Eagle family. Baby has been gaining independence and learning to fly , taking frequent short flights in the area. Parents have been giving Eaglet its freedom, spending much of the day away but still providing food.   However,  there are at least 3 Osprey nests in the very immediate vicinity, and all 6 or more (there are sometimes 3 Ospreys to a nest, but THAT is another story) Ospreys seem to want to take a crack at our baby, and take back the much improved nest.  Up to now parents and Eaglet have been able to fend off these attacks by the Osprey.  Suddenly things changed.

 What we found on April 17th was a far cry from last week's confidence.  The local Ospreys have waged all-out war on our Eagle family.  Baby went to its nest and stayed there for 6 full hours. Here is the report that came from the work site via GIBA:

"Today, the local Ospreys have seemingly launched a “major air campaign” to re-take their nest back from the Eagle family by convincing, via heavy harassment, the Baby Eagle to fly away. Here are the details on 2 Osprey attacks this morning.

FIRST OSPREY ATTACK:  Apparently, today, Wed 4/17,  just before Noon today, the Baby Eagle was flying near the nest to the South & he was attacked in the air by 2 Ospreys ( 2 versus 1). The good news was that the Baby was successful in defending himself, and the 2 Ospreys flew away.   So the baby kept on flying.

SECOND OSPREY ATTACK:  Then, not long after the first aerial Osprey attack, while the Baby was still flying in the southern area near the nest, a giant formation 6 Ospreys ganged up together & all simultaneously suddenly re-attacked the baby in a 6-1 ratio for a second time in the air.   Immediately after this major Osprey (seemingly coordinated) attack, fortunately the Baby was able to fly back to the nest.  However, Debra reported that when the Baby first landed on branch close to the nest, the Baby was holding one leg up so high that he/she was unable to balance, so the Baby quickly retreated to the safety of the Nest.  Debra thinks the Baby may be hurt, but there is really nothing we can do at this point, except observe and monitor."

Team Eaglet hightailed it out to the nest to keep vigil. Shortly after I arrived, so did Mom. Baby was so relieved to see Mom that it had a complete and total meltdown.

 Eaglet flung itself face down  in the nest and cried piteously for quite some time. Mom listened to this sad story as Dad flew into a nearby tree and kept lookout. After baby finished its terrible story, Mom and Dad squawked at each other for almost 15 minutes... a very serious family conversation.

You can hear the parents responding in the video below

 An Osprey did try to approach , but Dad chased it away

Eaglet was still terrorized but the parents somehow convinced it to take a little spin around the area, and Team Eaglet  was beyond relieved to see that baby could fly and land

And Eaglet's talons look to be OK

Osprey on the prowl

Here is dad after chasing the Osprey away.....Victorious again! 

PARENTS COME TO THE RESCUE

Plans for the Eaglet to leave the nest seem to have been put on hold for now.

After a string of Osprey attacks, parents are sticking close to nest and baby.

 Eaglet really does not want to be away from its parents right now

 Look Mom. Look Dad!

Baby has more skill than confidence, so parents are providing some one to one training

But never letting down their guard

Baby takes a test flight...parents are not giving up watch, as danger still lurks.

This post on the old railroad trestle across the Bay from the nest is rarely empty.  The Osprey Sentry stands guard below.

THE WAR HEATS UP

On Saturday, there was another serious Osprey/Eagle battle.

Several Ospreys attacked the parent over the Gulf near Little Gasparilla. There was a major in-flight battle which ended when the Eagle parent dropped into the Gulf, injured.

A boater witnessed the horrific battle and tried to shoo the Eagle to a sandbar. Our local wildlife expert and heroine, Blanche, sped to the scene

 The tide was too low to get to the sandbar, so Blanche and her helper had to wade all the way out near the mangroves, to where the Eagle had last been seen. Look at all the equipment and giant cage she had to haul out there!

Meantime, Team Eaglet  (again assembled at the scene) witnessed parent landing in one of its lookout trees,

 If you look closely, you can see blood on the right talon.

 Parent flew into the nest and hunkered down, appearing to frantically eat something in the  nest

 It looks like she was also injured on her right hindquarter 

 She looked traumatized.

Blanche and crew gave up the search. A boater finally came by and told them that they had seen the Eagle fly off.

And baby was wondering "What on earth is happening in my world????"

Parent recuperating in the nest.