Osprey attacked and killed by Canada Geese?

[NewMexiKen]

My brother created a one acre, nine foot deep pond in his northern Pennsylvania back yard. He stocks it with bass. Ospreys occasionally catch some of his fish, but he enjoys watching them. This year a pair of Canada Geese nested at the pond. They often acted aggressively towards the Osprey. Although almost exclusively fish-eaters, Osprey sometimes take birds and other small animals. The other day his wife looked out and saw the geese and an apparently young Osprey battling-- at least it looked that way to her, as they were splashing about in the pond. My brother ran out and found a freshly dead Osprey floating in the water. He retrieved it with a rake. It had some blood around its bill but otherwise appeared intact.

All the goslings were still alive, but they inexplicably disappeared a day or so later. My brother thinks they walked over to a larger lake almost a mile away. It seems so improbable that the geese killed the Osprey, but it is true that geese can fight fiercely when their young are threatened.

[lwhite]

I wouldn't be surprised at all. Those geese are really powerful, as you know, and the young Osprey probably had no idea what he was dealing with.

 

Lynda White

EagleWatch Coordinator

 

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

1101 Audubon Way

Maitland, FL 32751

407-644-0190 x 106

407-719-2642 cell

http://www.audubonofflorida.org/who_centers_CBOP_eaglewatch.html

 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, caring citizens can change the world.    Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

-Margaret Mead

 

 

 

 

 

 

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From: NewMexiKen [via Bald Eagles of Broward County, Florida] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 3:20 PM
To: WHITE, Lynda
Subject: Osprey attacked and killed by Canada Geese?

My brother created a one acre, nine foot deep pond in his northern Pennsylvania back yard. He stocks it with bass. Ospreys occasionally catch some of his fish, but he enjoys watching them. This year a pair of Canada Geese nested at the pond. They often acted aggressively towards the Osprey. Although almost exclusively fish-eaters, Osprey sometimes take birds and other small animals. The other day his wife looked out and saw the geese and an apparently young Osprey battling-- at least it looked that way to her, as they were splashing about in the pond. My brother ran out and found a freshly dead Osprey floating in the water. He retrieved it with a rake. It had some blood around its bill but otherwise appeared intact.

All the goslings were still alive, but they inexplicably disappeared a day or so later. My brother thinks they walked over to a larger lake almost a mile away. It seems so improbable that the geese killed the Osprey, but it is true that geese can fight fiercely when their young are threatened.

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