Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 18:36:47 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Chris Starling Subject: Raptor Rapture on the North East River -Cecil Greetings, Some prelude to the following account: Two years ago a pair of ospreys built a fairly large nest in the woods above my property line along the banks of Shelter Cove, an arm of the North East River in Cecil County. The nest was used successfully that year as well as last year. I was anxious to see the return of "our" ospreys and even more anxious to see if they would indeed take up residence in our yard again. However my anxiety turned to excitement when on March 5 I observed a third year Bald Eagle "sniffing out" the vacant Osprey nest. The (same) eagle continued to scope out the nest for the next 7 or 8 days. I even observed the eagle sitting in the nest on numerous occasions during that time. Then one day it was gone and I never saw it again. -Oh well I thought the Ospreys should be back any day now anyway. Sure enough around 3/16 "our" Ospreys returned and quickly took to repairing the nest that was slightly damaged during Isabel. The nest is now bigger and stronger then ever and I have enjoyed watching up to 4 Ospreys compete for the privilege of nesting in this nest. It's been in the back of my mind that the Eagle may return and I hoped that I would be home to see it. Well last night I was fishing off of my bank and enjoying the Osprey show. Nearing dusk, it was quite quiet in the cove, I noticed that no Osprey were around. then I noticed a large bird up near the nest. It was an adult Bald Eagle! I was amazed at how close to the nest the bird was. then I noticed that there was another bird IN the nest. At first I figured it was the Osprey defending her territory but I soon realized that it was ANOTHER BALD EAGLE actually sitting in the nest! Moments later the Osprey pair returned and the aerial assult commenced. It was quite impressive to watch these four large raptors tangled in flight combat! -the noise alone was alarming! After about ten minutes the Ospreys returned to their nest only this time there were three of them. I thought the Eagles had dispersed. I then saw one of the eagles in a tree above my car consuming a rather large shad that I assume she plucked out of the cove. The other eagle was quickly seen in a snag above. Then right before I went in a Third Eagle was seen flying into the cove and lit in a tree near the Ospreys. So as the "sun went down in honey and the moon came up in wine" -(to quote the Grateful Dead) there were three Ospreys and three Bald Eagles with their eyes on one nest in my yard. My hunch tells me that the Ospreys will prevail, but it sure is fun watching them duke it out! Good Birding, Chris Starling ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================