There was literally high drama at the osprey nest last week. Harriet was waiting calmly for Ozzie to return with lunch and I thought I saw him appear high on the horizon. But, Harriet didn’t utter her usual welcoming chirps as that osprey approached, She became agitated.
The incoming osprey apparently was one of our rogue bachelor males looking to take over prime coastal real estate by home invasion. Let’s call him Putin. (See the images here and in the Comment space.) Soon, Putin started a long, increasingly fast dive at the nest, while Harriet screamed bloody murder.
He strafed, Harriet ducked, and his talons missed her by about six inches as she screamed and snapped viciously at him. He didn’t try a second swoop and was gone by the time that Ozzie arrived a minute or so later.
This is serious. Last year, Ozzie and another Putin had several fights over the nest that resulted in Ozzie being wounded, Putin losing at least his tail and maybe his life, and Harriet leaving the nest for parts unknown before laying any eggs.
There always has been osprey fratricide by rogue males. But recently, there also has been a reported increase in bald eagles invading and taking over osprey nests along the Maine coast. This is becoming concerning. Among raptors, there is no golden rule and they can be almost as stupid as humans when it comes to attacking their fellow-species. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on May 1, 2026.)