Bald Eagle and Canada Goose Face Off in Burlington Bay

A bald eagle might have thought it found an easy meal in a Canada goose resting on the icy bay in Burlington, Ont., but according to Mervyn Sequeira – who observed and photographed a 20-minute clash between the two birds – the goose put up a good fight.

During his usual Sunday morning family hike at La Salle Marina, Sequeira and his family witnessed a unique moment – a confrontation between America’s national bird and Canada’s well-known animal.

“We were there, and we saw this bald eagle swooping down to attack a Canada goose that was on the ice,” said the 74-year-old while speaking to CBC Hamilton.

Sequeira says it seemed like the goose was unwell. (Mervyn Sequeira)

Sequeira is a retired airline captain who has been taking pictures of Canadian wildlife since he moved to Canada from Goa, India, three decades ago. He caught the eagle-goose showdown with his camera on February 23.

The bald eagle made “several attempts” to take down the goose, Sequeira explained.

“When we thought that it was really over for the goose, oddly enough, the bald eagle just gave up and left,” said Sequeira, who’s from Oakville, Ont.

“The goose got lucky that day.”

‘This is how nature works’

Sequeira mentioned that while he doesn’t usually engage in politics, he found the encounter “very symbolic.”

“I only shared [the pictures on social media] regarding what happened, without any political spin. However, many people viewed it through a political lens,” he said.

From his viewpoint, Sequeira stated that “this is how nature works.”

“But we’re living in a somewhat polarized world right now, so some folks interpreted it differently.”

In all his years capturing wildlife moments, Sequiera says he had never seen anything like this before. (Mervyn Sequeira)

The confrontation took place not long before U. S. President Donald Trump started a trade war with Canada. This week, he imposed long-anticipated tariffs of 25 percent on most goods from Canada. Trump’s remarks suggesting that Canada is so reliant on America that it should become its 51st state have also strained relations.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by announcing immediate counter-tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products.

“To the American people, we don’t want this,” Trudeau said during a news conference Tuesday morning. “We want to collaborate as friends and allies without causing harm to each other; however your government has chosen to do this to you.”

Trudeau emphasized that Canadians “are united in realizing it’s time for us to respond strongly and show that fighting with Canada leads nowhere.. The sooner we move past this conflict… the better off we’ll all be.”

‘When we thought that it was really over for the goose, strangely, the bald eagle just gave up and left,’ Sequiera says. (Mervyn Sequeira)

Photographer Says Bird Looked Unwell

Bald eagles aren’t new sights in Burlington. The first eagles hatched on Canada’s side of Lake Ontario in half a century at Royal Botanical Gardens in 2013. Another pair of eaglets were born at RBG in 2023. RBG told CBC Hamilton that while they know about one local bald eagle based nearby Cootes Paradise, overall numbers are increasing.

The Canada goose is much more commonly seen; however, Sequeira noted it appeared sickly which may explain why the bald eagle targeted it as prey. He mentioned it’s typical for eagles during winter months to go after sick waterfowl when catching fish becomes more challenging due to ice cover.

Sequeira observed that the goose struggled to stay upright and its head kept swaying “very much like someone would if they experienced vertigo.”

He stated he’s never encountered anything like what he documented last month.

“We see bald eagles going for fish regularly or sometimes chasing smaller ducks,” he remarked.

“But seeing one target a Canada goose is quite unusual; this is my first experience witnessing such an event.”

He finds nature’s way of maintaining balance “fascinating,” said Sequeira.

“Eagles or coyotes exist partly to remove sick animals while keeping populations balanced,” he explained.

“Some may not grasp [it], but that’s simply how nature functions. And I just enjoy being out there.”

Sequeira ,74, a photographer from Oakville , Ont., says he was out on a hike with his family at La Salle Marina when he noticed the bald eagle dive down towardthe Canada geese.( Submitted by Mervyn Sequeira)

Source link