Summary: Harriet put on quite an aerial show yesterday morning when a bald eagle appeared about half a mile away. After that, two chicks showed themselves; whether there still is a third chick is yet to be determined. Ozzie did not make an appearance while I was there.
Harriet’s defensive strategy seems to be based on the theory that it is better to challenge the enemy at a distance from the nest, rather than stay near or on it. On seeing the eagle, she began screaming and scrambled immediately up and off the nest, as you see here.
She began flying in wide circles above the nest like an aircraft carrier fighter that provides cover for the flat top. The eagle paid absolutely no attention to her antics and continued on its way, slowly flapping its huge wings to cross Great Cove.
All the while, Harriet circled and screamed, the chicks huddled unseen at the bottom of the nest, and I did contortions trying to keep Harriet in focus. (It seems that the chicks go to the bottom of the nest when Harriet screams in attack mode, but not when she calls differently at the sight of Ozzie.)
As the eagle disappeared, Harriet returned and calmly preened herself as if nothing had happened. That’s when two chicks stuck their heads up and peered over the side of their nest. I waited for 30 minutes, but neither the third chick nor Ozzie appeared.
(Brooklin, Maine)