Canada Goose Defends Against Bald Eagle in Rare Ice Battle
For the second time in weeks, a Canadian hero has emerged as the unexpected winner in an existential war on the ice.
Mervyn Sequeira, an Ontario photographer, was out with his family on a recent morning when they noticed a bald eagle descending near a frozen lake.
Sequeira studied the countryside, sensing an impending attack on unsuspecting prey, and noticed a single, helpless Canada goose.
Sequeira remained focused on the struggle for the following 20 minutes, anticipating a lopsided bout with a gloomy finale.
Through bursts of his shutter, he managed to capture a determined goose fending off death.
"I've seen bald eagles take a variety of animals, including ducks and muskrats. But this is the first time I've seen a bald eagle go after something as large as a goose," he explained.
Despite several strikes from the eagle, the goose remained unbowed. The raptor, defeated, flew away.
At a time when Donald Trump's US has put Canada's sovereignty under unprecedented threat, the conflict between two birds widely connected with each country has emerged as the latest emblem of tensions between the two nations.
This week, Trump imposed a 25% tax on most Canadian imports and vowed to acquire the world's second-largest country.
Three days before, Canada's national hockey team had taken to the ice in Boston for a competition billed as a clash of the sport's most dominant nations.
An overtime Canadian goal, packed with symbolism, ended the game, electrifying and soothing an anxious nation.
"You can't take our country - and you can't take our game," wrote Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media.
For Canadians, such interactions have been tough to separate from a trade war sparked by the country's closest ally and biggest trading partner.
"We've been in terrible situations before... But we have not only survived, but we have emerged stronger than ever because when it comes to defending our wonderful country, there is no price we are unwilling to pay. Today is no exception," Trudeau said to Canadians.
Sequeira, a retired airline pilot and avid bird photographer, is cautious about incorporating symbolism into the images.
"It's pretty coincidental that it should have occurred at this moment. And I am not altogether surprised. I prefer to look at things from the perspective of a naturalist and a wildlife photographer rather than adding my spin on them. But it's normal for people to consider it in the context of what's going on," he explained.
Others saw the conflict as a symbol of Canada's tenacity and refusal to back down when confronted.
"Nature has a way of removing the weak, unwell, and injured. "The eagle probably thought it would be able to take it out fairly easily," Sequeira added. "But, it wasn't."