Station Road CVP 20230415 Today the peregrines at the Station Road Bridge/ CVNP site were reactive to a number of turkey vultures that soared on thermals near the nest bridge, occasionally diving on them to let them know their territorial boundaries. They were more vocal when hawks were in the vicinity, including red-tailed hawks and a few broad-winged hawks that took heed with their calls and moved along quickly to avoid any aggression. But toward the end of the day, a Golden Eagle flew over the river right toward the nest bridge coming from the north, and the pair's defensiveness hit a whole new level! Zara, who was perched comfortably in a tree near the bank "kekked" in synch with Zen's escalating "kekking" that was coming from the nest site, where he was on the eggs, and then they both flew out, vocalizing and looking up at this large and prominent intruder, making wide circles around the eagle while rising up to avoid being lower than this threat that, like the peregrine, is renowned for its speedy dives. Once they were both higher than the Golden Eagle, they each motioned toward him in a pendulum diving motion, stopping well short of striking the eagle, as the eagle deftly flipped in defense. They continued their repeated, synchronized defense as the eagle headed for the trees to the southwest, and they continued to dive as they all three flew below the tree line and out of view. A short time later, Zara returned and flew up onto the eggs, and Zen flew in and maintained a high perch where he could survey the territory. This was a beautiful day, but unfortunately this happened later as the clouds were rolling in and rain was expected. These images are distant and dark, but we were excited to see the characteristic features of this golden eagle that distinguishes it from a juvenile bald eagle that we are so much more accustomed to seeing in Northern Ohio. Zen flew "kekked" loudly and with greater intensity from inside the nest, and then flew out as the Golden Eagle approached the bridge...

...looking overhead as the eagle was high up, flying right over the bridge...

Zen...

The Golden Eagle flew in from the north, looking large, but with a different flight posture than what we're used to seeing with a bald eagle. Once we were able to review images, the "fingers" at the end of the wings were more obvious, as was the golden nape and the white band on the tail and white patches inside the wings...

Golden eagle flying in...

Golden eagle...

...ready to fly over the bridge and showing the features well...

...above and on the opposite side of the bridge as the pair was circling up to get higher than the eagle...

...as the golden eagle continued to fly southward, the peregrines, now above, made repeated, pendulum-like dives toward him, and the eagle inverted in defense...

The golden eagle inverted as one of the peregrines dipped down toward him...

...and the peregrines continued to escort the eagle out aggressively...

...and in the distance, the eagle changed shape to pick up speed and dive down toward the distant trees...

...and Zen zipped right past...

...and another fly-by by one of the peregrines in the distance...

...and as the peregrines rung up, the eagle continued to lower in the sky...

...and the eagle continued to get lower and disappeared behind the tree line with the peregrines continuing to drive him out...

Zara flying back in and heading up to the nest...

Zara flying up to cover the eggs again...

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