Eagles vs Ospreys: The battle over Lido Beach Residence

Bald eagle roosting atop Tom McInerney's nesting platform near LSPOA beach access

Ospreys stand guard over the nesting platform near the LSPOA Pavilion

A pair of mating bald eagles have won out over a pair of ospreys for bragging rights atop the pole erected by neighbor Tom McInerney near the LSPOA Beach Pavilion area.

Richard LaBrie and John Byles report the ospreys got the boot recently from the coveted platform that provides a birds eye view of the Gulf.

This week, we spotted one of the eagles building a nest, using straw from the McInerney's tiki-hut.

Eagle bringing in nesting material

Osprey's before they were evicted by a pair of bald eagles.

There's also some thievery going on. The ospreys, upset about having to relocate, are pilfering from the eagle's nest.  

Richard says we can help both pairs. On the way to and from the beach, collect a few twigs and leave them piled in the parking area. Just might save Tom's tiki roof and help stop the bird feud.

Here's some information on the competing raptors to impress your friends. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

Osprey in flight (Florida Wildlife Photo)

The osprey is smaller than the bald eagles that typically share the same habitats, but its five to six foot wingspan is impressive nonetheless. Adults are dark brown above with a white underside and head.

The osprey is found year-round in Florida both as a nesting species and as a spring and fall migrant passing between more northern areas and Central and South America. 

Ospreys, also known as "fish hawks," are expert anglers that like to hover above the water, locate their prey and then swoop down for the capture with talons extended.

Ospreys build large stick nests located in the tops of large living or dead trees and on man made structures such as utility poles, channel markers and nest platforms. Ospreys have adapted so well to artificial nest sites that the species now nests in areas once considered unsuitable. Nests are commonly reused for many years. Nesting begins from December (south Florida) to late February (north Florida). 

Bald eagle flying in straw from McInerney tiki hut

Bald Eagle
Florida has one of the densest concentrations of nesting eagles in the lower 48 states, with over 1,000 nesting pairs. 

Throughout their range, bald eagles use forested habitats for nesting and roosting, and expanses of shallow fresh or salt water for foraging. The greatest numbers of bald eagle nesting territories in Florida are found along the Gulf coast and around some of the larger inland lakes and river systems in the Florida peninsula.

Bald eagles are highly social outside of the nesting season, but are extremely territorial when nesting.  

Eagles begin laying eggs as early as October or as late as April (nests that are built later in the season are mostly renesting attempts or nests built after the first attempt fails).

Nest sites tend to be built near the edges of eagle habitats such as in a living tree that offers a view of the surrounding area. They also use artificial structures such as communication towers, transmission towers, and raptor nesting platforms. 

Bald eagle in pine tree (Getty image)

However, bald eagles in Florida strongly prefer living in native pines. Nearly all bald eagle nests in Florida are built within 1.8 miles of water. Eagle pairs often build more than one nest, which allows them to move to an alternate nest while remaining in their territory.  

The ospreys are now taking up residence on nesting platform in Cox's backyard

~ BT
bthill@icloud.com