I have mentioned before that I have been trying to film an osprey catching a fish. Every morning I have been going to a spot on the Yellowstone River where I have seen an osprey catch a fish twice. Of course I didn’t have my camera when I saw that. I have become friends with every bug, plant and bird (except ospreys) in the area. I even saw a vole running around in broad daylight the other day, but I still haven’t filmed an osprey catching a fish.
But I did see something pretty neat today, although I felt bad for the osprey involved.
Bald eagles are kind of lazy birds and are known for their ability to steal fish from ospreys. Ospreys are more maneuverable than eagles, but not when they are carrying a heavy fish. Today I watched an eagle steal 2 fish from the same osprey. I didn’t film the first time because it was too far away, but I got the second one.
The osprey and the eagle made an amazing number of steep turns and dives but finally the osprey thought the eagle was too close. The first fish it dropped was pretty small but the second one was a good size and it had to of slowed the osprey down. I felt sorry for the osprey – two fish caught and she still didn’t get any breakfast or lunch.
The eagle had a good time though. In both cases it swooped down and retrieved the fish from the surface of the river, took it to its favorite tree and had breakfast.
Our photos are available at www.vernelehmberg.com.
That was some pretty cool action. Sorry that you haven’t gotten your osprey catching a fish. I know a spot in Coeur d’Alene where I’ve photographed them catching fish.