The Horse Island Canada goose nest is located on the ground, in the center of the very small island, gets rebuilt every spring, and has been there since 2012.
While the female sits on the eggs in the nest, the male would half sleep-rest, take up a listen, guard, position, on one of several spots; a big dry rock or on a wood dock within about 100-yds of the nest.
When the eagle is flying the area, the local Canada geese have an alarm system. The geese will honk in a certain way that immediately seems to get the attention of geese from a mile or more away, across the water. The resting male can be observed to perk up, get up off the dock, and vigorously look out to the distance, and will honk back in reply.
The large male with the aluminum band imprinted with a long number starting with 3 did not show up this year, and the female showed up with a new male. Is possible the old male with the band was killed by the eagles last summer? Eagles probably look at a Canada goose same way how a black bear looks at a hereford steer.
Have never had the opportunity to toss a Cheez-it out 30' to a bald eagle, because the eagles are elusive and always stay far away, unlike the Canada geese who will waddle into the yard looking for Cheez-its.
Like, where-o-where are those Cheez-its ........ feed me!
Here's a super video of a bald eagle attacking and eating a Canada goose: (youtube: Need to find video, gotta run, later today). To an eagle's eyes, the Canada goose looks like lunch!