Osprey vs Canada Geese
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In my last post I shared two photos of Canada Geese taking stances with Osprey because the geese had already taken possession of some of the returning Osprey’s homes.
Here’s another one of those instances, in a series of photos.
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Canada Geese nesting on last year’s Osprey nest
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Mama Goose is incubating eggs
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Over on the nearby shoreline resting in a tree was a male Osprey taking a break. When rested, he’d do another 3-4 swooping attacks at the geese.
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Canada Geese verbally upset with the Osprey after several attacks
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Hair on their neck is standing and feathers are ruffled too!
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Osprey begins another round of swoops
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That swoop got Mama Goose up and really angry now
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Whoa…..the Osprey swooped again
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Even though the Osprey was relentless in the constant swoops, I noted in my photos that the Osprey always kept its talons curled closed. No intention of injury, more of a scare tactic. One that cannot work in this instance with a family already started.
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Canada Geese up and watching the Osprey who flew to the shoreline for another tree break
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The Osprey’s lady returned from a flight and perched alongside him in the tree. There was no nest around them to begin their season’s family.
I couldn’t help but feel bad for the Canada Geese as well, with them already having the established nest and eggs.
With the female Osprey back, the male Osprey stopped the attacks.
Mr. & Mrs. Goose were able to go back to resting.
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Mr. & Mrs. Canada Goose
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Yeah but when those babies come the Osprey is going to eat well. Great shots Donna.
Thanks! But, oh no, the Osprey will not eat the gooslings. Osprey are live fish eaters, and our waters are full of fish. If there was not enough fish, the Osprey would move location to find fish. Osprey would have to be starving to divert to other necessary means to eat to survive. Promise! 🙂
I am wondering how many pictures you must have clicked to capture this story!
Actually about 30, lol, I had a hard time getting the Osprey in the attack shot, but it was fun trying! When he gave up the last time, we motored on to let the geese get some peace for a little while. 🙂
Hats off to your patience🙌
🙂
Intense drama! Hard to choose sides in this one. Though property rights points towards the ospreys. God’s the Judge!
Thanks, Eliza! I know, right?! I’m going to try to check it out in next week or so. 🙂
A dramatic story unfolding! You have left me on the edge, donna!😄
Thank you, Indira, wildlife does that to us! 😉 😄
Really nice series and story told. A big fan of this style (as if you didn’t know). 👏👏👏
Thank you, Ted!
Wow, life in the wild has its tough moment
Yes it does!!
👌👌👌📷🌹 excellent.😘Geese are one of the fastest birds. Have you ever seen them at full speed?
Thank you, Mic! Yes, I have, both flying and running! I’ve ran from one because I did not want to get goosed!! 😂🤣 Luckily, so far I have not. Whew!
😁👌
You are amazing photographer 🌷🙏🌷So stunning photos and the two geese also
facing difficult because the place not safe 😟so pity on them and sad only 🙏
Thank you so kindly! Yes, I’m not so sure how strong the old hunting blind is, it sure does look like it’s sagging. 🙁
You are so welcome 🌷🙏♥️So risk only , God only can save the two geese and it’s eggs 👏🖖Blessed Friday 🌷
Awesome photos Donna! Great seeing the Goose and Osprey nesting
Thank you, Eddie!
Huh, I didn’t know geese were prone to taking over the nest of others! I hope the Osprey find a good spot and begin a new nest and all can breed, and brood happily ever after!
I’ve read many stories of resident Canada Geese on the Chesapeake Bay taking over Osprey nest platforms, it’s crazy! I don’t know if there’s ever been a successful goose brood with such a small space. The hunting blinds do make nice nests for both birds. I’m hoping the Osprey pair get busy real soon finding another nest location (and that is not hard around the bay!) before they miss their chance. 🙂
Wow. Amazing captures, Donna. Geese are very stubborn once they have chosen a spot. Good luck to them and the Osprey.
Thank you, Lisa! Fingers crossed it all works out for both!!
Osprey are permanent residents in Southern California so they occupy their nests all year.
Florida has permanent Osprey residents as well, but they all leave the nest once the fledglings are on their own, still staying in the overall area though. Because of the few months of not using their nest, the Florida Osprey can still lose it to an owl. 🙁
The female keeps house throughout the year at the nests I observe while the male remains in the area. Offspring may stay nearby or fly to Central America. Interestingly, the young fledge earlier in Southern California than in the Northeast. This is due to the warmer weather and abundance of food.
It was lovely to see that the Osprey was gracious enough not to harm the geese, Donna unlike some of our birds which are more merciless, though it is an Osprey nesting site and the Osprey surely know that and want to use it soon I guess. Lovely captures my friend.
I was happy too that there wasn’t really any violence. The Osprey was clearly frustrated though. The geese sit on eggs for 28 days, so not knowing how long it’s been, if not long, the Osprey best find another location close by to breed this season! I’m hoping we go by them again in the next week, see what’s going on. 🙂
This is a problem of “first come, first serve”. Both species are in need of a nest. It happens that the geese were there first. You bought the documented the whole dispute perfectly. Very good work, Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! That male Osprey was clearly frustrated with the geese. But I was glad he did them no physical harm. Hopefully, the eggs have been incubating for a few weeks and soon to hatch. Then the Osprey can have their blind back! 🙂
Goodness. I had no idea that Osprey would go after Canada Geese like that.
The hunting blind must be the Osprey’s nest from last year. The Osprey came back and found some big geese in his house! He’s not physically harming the geese, he thinks he can scare them off, but Mama Goose isn’t going anywhere until those eggs hatch!
Oh, no…squatters. Um, whoops?
Wow! I was under the impression that Canada geese make their nests down low, close to the water, so the goslings can start swimming a couple of days after hatching. How will they get down to the water to start swimming and feeding themselves? I hope you will let us know how this situation develops. Amazing pictures, Donna!
Thank you, Barbara! I’ve yet to see geese do it, but I imagine Mama will coerce them into jumping into the water after birth (they can swim/dive in two days). Scary sounding for such a high blind! I saw a Mama Mallard do this once with a dozen ducklings . She jumped/flew down from a dock to the water, then called them. One by one they jumped and plopped to the water. It was the cutest thing, once I saw them swimming around immediately. 🙂
Interesting photo series! There is an active Osprey nesting stand at a nearby nature park. So far, the geese have stayed away.
Thank you! Now that your park’s Osprey are back, there’ll be no worries with geese trying to take over. 🙂
Terrific series of images!
I’ve seen Canada Geese in action defending an active nest and they are truly formidible!
Thank you, Wally! Oh boy, I came up by surprise near a goose nest, and the male started to charge me. I almost got goosed! Ha! Of course, it wouldn’t have been so HA if he’d have gotten me. 😉
Great photos and story telling! Is this the same spot that I saw the Osprey and the Canada Goose sharing the same platform? Looks like there is an Osprey nest next to the geese. I guess they don’t want to share?
Thank you, Simon! This is actually another hunting blind with just the geese nesting on it, with the old Osprey nest on it from last year. This blind is not near as big as the other one you mentioned/I shared in last post. That one gave them some spacing, lol. As for Osprey, they do not cohabitat with other birds except little birds who nest in the bottom of a big Osprey nest are okay. Osprey do not like anything swimming below their nests, no fly-overs, not even another Osprey. They believe they own their space, including air and water around them. 😊
That’s a lot of drama. I always find it difficult to take sides, though I tend to root for the little guy and not for the bird-eating raptor. But in this case, the osprey wouldn’t kill the geese, I assume, unless things really got out of hand.
I’m with you! I don’t think the Osprey would try to kill the geese. The geese possessed the blind first this season. I’m hoping to find an Osprey nest being built on the shoreline in the next week. Unless the geese hatch now, but I don’t know how long she’s been on the eggs (they incubate 28 days).
I hope you will get to see the goslings!
That would be sweet!
Nice series of images! I have seen this quite often but I think they just want their territory back!
Thank you, Reed!! Yep, those Osprey just want home back. Bad enough they need to beat other Osprey back, now geese! 😉
The geese there are not too bright. I think most birds know that would be an osprey’s spot.
We have the same problem, because the geese are here first. Sadly, they don’t stay at the nest long once the eggs hatch, whereas the Osprey use the nest for months.