March 28: Under Siege

After some fishing on the wing at a newish pond, the osprey was attacked in the air by a Canada goose. (I knew this was potentially dangerous since I recently watched a video of a goose capturing and drowning a seagull.) Orville pulled away, and the goose returned to guarding his nest which the osprey had flown over. The chastened osprey left the area and headed back to his more familiar pond.

After flying, diving, and bathing in his usual haunt, he flew over a pasture. An adult red tail streaked up from behind and attacked. A mere split-second tangle sent a couple of feathers flying. The hawk did not pursue as the osprey flew away low and fast.

Orville didn’t return to my whistles and was quiet. He finally started chirping in the front yard and returned to the glove–clearly shaken. Blood stained some of his pond-dampened belly feathers, but he acted fine as I flew him on a third pond. (No fish about).

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