When you talk about your gardens, I imagine them to be lovely and tranquil.
The owls would absolutely do away with the eggs or small eaglets should they ever get control, which would be very difficult to do in this particular nest. They'd have to hurt M so he couldn't fly and then try to get through Harriet as she sits on the eggs. I've seen her defend a couple times when another eagle has been brave enough to land on the nest while she's been incubating. She is fierce and will fight to the death. An owl wouldn't have a chance against her, or M for that matter.
Parasitic birds are an interesting bunch, as well as the birds they try to trick. Both sides have worked on ways to out maneuver the other. In some instances, the parasitic somehow has evolved egg shells that mimic the hosts, while the host will change up how they build a nest making an opening too small to enter. Some hosts have even developed a gang type sense, in that they have look outs watching and will attack as a group the parasitic. Both sides have even evolved where their feathers mimic the other in an effort to out game the opponent.
Nature, tis very interesting stuff.
The owls would absolutely do away with the eggs or small eaglets should they ever get control, which would be very difficult to do in this particular nest. They'd have to hurt M so he couldn't fly and then try to get through Harriet as she sits on the eggs. I've seen her defend a couple times when another eagle has been brave enough to land on the nest while she's been incubating. She is fierce and will fight to the death. An owl wouldn't have a chance against her, or M for that matter.
Parasitic birds are an interesting bunch, as well as the birds they try to trick. Both sides have worked on ways to out maneuver the other. In some instances, the parasitic somehow has evolved egg shells that mimic the hosts, while the host will change up how they build a nest making an opening too small to enter. Some hosts have even developed a gang type sense, in that they have look outs watching and will attack as a group the parasitic. Both sides have even evolved where their feathers mimic the other in an effort to out game the opponent.
Nature, tis very interesting stuff.