Bald eagle attacks Audubon osprey nest in rare live stream video

This past spring, the Audubon, and Explore.com live stream viewers were delighted to watch as three adorable osprey chicks, Eric, Little B, and Spirit hatched in a nest located on Hog Island in Maine. Over the course of a few months, the world watched while the chicks grew into curious juveniles edging closer to the moment when they would be ready to leave the family nest.

But then this happened:

The bald eagle stealthily raided the nest and took Spirit in its clutches as Little B leaped out of the nest in a wobbly attempt to flee for his life, and while Eric ducked out of the way appearing to be terrified of the predatory attack.

Steve Kress, the vice president for bird conservation at the National Audubon Society and also the director of the Audubon Camp on Hog Island, noted that “I didn’t realize they’d take chicks that big, but now we know they do.”

Nature is a cruel thing sometimes.