next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
/* Style Definitions *
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"/>
<style type="text/css">.mceResizeHandle {position: absolute;border: 1px solid black;background: #FFF;width: 5px;height: 5px;z-index: 10000}.mceResizeHandle:hover {background: #000}img[data-mce-selected] {outline: 1px solid black}img.mceClonedResizable, table.mceClonedResizable {position: absolute;outline: 1px dashed black;opacity: .5;z-index: 10000}
</style>
</head><body style="">
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hi Ron and All</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you want to see how fast Eagles are, go to Blue Beach</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">and fish for stripers. The Eagles will sit on the trees behind you</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">- throw out a piece of bait and its whoosh the Eagle has it.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Quite amazing. </span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Terns seem to have good defense against air borne predators</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">but not so much against four legged mammals who travel by night.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Skunks, Minks, Raccoons and so on.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don't know if you can remember the tern colonies on PEI.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The birds were in attack mode in the day so an Eagle took</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">its chances but at night little defense.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In my young days on PEI in the days of free range hens, sheep and lambs</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">an Eagle or any big bird of prey was living dangerously if it came on a visit.</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Probably didn't make the same mistake twice!</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Enjoy the spring</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul</span>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span>
</div>
<blockquote style="position: relative; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 10px; border-left: solid 1px blue;" type="cite">
On April 5, 2020 at 11:59 AM Ronald Arsenault <rongarsenault@gmail.com> wrote:
<br/>
<br/>
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
Hi John and all,
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
On a number of occasions I have witnessed Bald Eagles harassing Ospreys after the latter had captured a fish. The eagle, flying high above the osprey, would dive bomb the osprey causing the bird to drop the fish.  The dive was "J" shaped, with the eagle turning up just before contact with the osprey would have occurred. It would then have to turn and head down and go after the fish. In a spectacular display of speed and maneuverability, I have seen the eagle catch the fish in its talon before the fish hit the water! In fairness, though, I have also seen them miss.
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
While the Bald Eagle understandably has the reputation of being a lumbering flyer who prefers feeding of carrion, they are very capable predators with impressive flying abilities, in both speed and maneuverability. 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
Growing up on PEI  in the 60's and early 70's, I never saw a Bald Eagle. Not a single one! This is quite a contrast with the situation today where I see eagles on a regular basis when visiting PEI.
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
As for their impact on other species, I started visiting parts of Antigonish and Guysborough counties in the late 70's. In the early years, I saw many ospreys, while eagles were few and far between. These days, I go to that area of the province much more infrequently, however the relative abundance of these species appears to have reversed. I frequently see Bald Eagles, while I rarely see ospreys. Obviously this is anecdotal only, but I would love to see actual figures.
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
I also remember reading that the increase in eagle numbers had a negative impact on the seabird colonies on the Bird Islands off Cape Breton. I am hoping someone can add details to this.
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
Stay safe
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
 
</div>
<div style="font-size: large;" class="gmail_default">
Ron
</div>