Bald Eagle Osprey attack

These two Bald Eagles pursued and attacked an Osprey over our pond this morning. Quality-wise, this was not one of my better photos, but it's the best as far as capturing the action. The immature Eagle on the right is grappling with the Osprey as the adult approaches from the left. The action was fast and furious, and the low-level fly-by's really brought home how big these birds are.

Light level was low, and 1/250 sec @ f/5.6 wasn't fast enought to provide a sharp capture.

By the way, the Osprey actually managed to escape and fly off!

It's interesting, I didn't know they did that. I always see hawks getting attacked by smaller birds.

Can you zoom in and crop it so we can see it a little better.

What a thing to see!
I know eagles go after ospreys for fish, but I didn't know they would attack them otherwise. Are those feathers in the air below the adult? It's hard to make out the osprey - I agree with Steve. I'd love to see an enlargement of the osprey and immature eagle.

Hi, folks;
Yes, Buck, those are feathers! Steve, this image lacks sufficient detail to withstand much of a a crop. I'm attaching a crop of the next frame in the series- not much better, but it provides a more detailed look at the osprey.

Fantastic photo. Just a tidbit of imformation it is not uncommon for larger birds of prey to attach and kill smaller birds of prey. I have never observed it with Balds Eagles but I have witnessed it with Goldens. Also it takes 5 years for Bald Eagles to become sexually mature and gain a white head and tail feathers. So your bird there is very close to being fully mature.
Did you notice if the Osprey had a fish it was carrying, might explain the aggressive behavior in the eagle.
Again being in the right place at the right time.

Dickson Smith
Brigham City, Ut.

Very cool shot Rita. I've been witnessing this same behavior on a lake around me. Mine are juvi BEs though going after the Osprey, in hopes of getting a free meal, because it doesn't last very long and so far none of the Osprey have had fish. I haven't seen them actually attack the Osprey like this pair, but I've seen how fast and furious it is when it happens. It's been out over the lake so I've only been able to watch with binocs. I'm hoping they come closer to shore and I'm able to grab a few shots.

When the Division of Wildlife was going to re-introduce Osprey in my area they had to consider the nesting locations of Bald Eagles. I was told that not only do they compete for food, but the eagles will not tolerate the Osprey within a certain radius of there nests (or what they consider their prime territory). One of the things they do is put up those nesting platforms for Osprey, so they have to ensure that they are not near a bald eagles nest, although I cannot remember how far apart they need to be. I do remember that they Osprey at the chose to not introduce Osprey at the local reservoir because eagles were already present. Perhaps they could have sustained the competition but they did not want to risk their initial Osprey releases.
Rob

great catch!
Sandy r