Quote:
Originally Posted by lakeforest
"...APS, do you have any similar information on Golden eagles? I am sure I have seen a golden eagle around 19 mile bay occasionally over the last two years..."
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I'm certain you're right: check out our Golden Eagle discussions back then:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ghlight=golden
I've had too-few opportunities to identify Goldens, but it's likely their wings are held in the same manner as Bald Eagles while soaring. (Dead-straight).
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal
"...Is an Osprey a bird of prey like the other two...?"
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Ospreys feed nearly exclusively on live fish—which the Bald Eagle will try to steal from them!
So to answer your question, the Osprey is a bird of prey whose intended prey can become the intended prey of a
different bird of prey.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lakeforest
"...Two years ago, I watched what I believe was the golden eagle in a fight with a bald eagle. The bald eagle came from high above, dove and attacked the golden causing it to turn upside down in mid air to fight off the bald eagle. The golden was much larger than the bald. It was quite a sight..."
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WRT to these large birds, the female is larger; therefore, you could have seen a
larger female Golden Eagle being attacked by a
smaller male Bald Eagle. Other than the gender difference, the two species are more different in weight than size—Goldens being heavier.
The fight you describe was most likely "posturing" for a good feeding/nesting territory. A few years ago, I watched a large Osprey dive on a Bald Eagle, forcing the Bald Eagle upside-down to display its talons.
Both appeared satisfied that their "points" had been made.
All these birds "dive" on others—occasionally on one another of the same species: I've seen two juvenile Bald Eagles (possibly siblings) link their talons and fall—spiraling—hundreds of feet before releasing just above the water's surface!
Some remarkable Internet photos from last month show two frustrated adult Bald Eagles eventually colliding over a "lucky duck" that didn't become either Eagle's dinner:
(White tail feathers show both birds).
("Lucky Duck" observing to the far right as the Eagles appear on a collision course).
(This collision left one Eagle stunned on the water's surface, but it did survive the encounter to fly once again).
(Same duck...checking things out).
(Eagle recovers, gets airborne).
(Wet, rumpled, but wiser Bald Eagle dries out nearby).