Most of the birds that spend the night on the lake were scared by the early morning arrival of the white-tailed eagle. Those who remained squeezed together ruffled their feathers and did their best to look bigger and healthier while making excited sounds I had never heard before. Strangely, after the eagle settled onto the branch, the birds would not see it dangerous any longer; moreover, they left the lake in smaller flocks, flying right into its direction.