West Beach, Hammonasset State Park, Madison, CT
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Had fun Sunday morning on a bus trip, sponsored by the Stratford Rec Dept., to see bald eagles along the Housatonic River.
At our first stop in Shelton, we pulled into a riverfront access and picnic area near Moultrop Lane. After scanning trees along both shorelines for a little while, we saw an adult eagle perched in a tree on the Shelton side of the river.
After an eagle-less stop at Lake Zoar, we headed up to the eagle observation area at the Shepaug Dam observation area in Southbury. As soon as we got off the bus, a nearly-adult eagle (mostly with adult plumage, but a hint of juvenile coloration in his or her tail feathers) was soaring overhead. Turns out that was the only eagle we saw during our 45 minutes at the dam, but it was still a neat stop.
We saw the eagle riding a thermal (a column of rising air). Eagles in flight take advantage of thermals to conserve energy, and can ride thermal waves for hundreds of miles as they migrate.
We also learned that Connecticut’s eagle population represents an impressive recovery. We have 23 nesting pairs, and a winter population today that’s probably greater than the state had when the English settlers arrived in the 1630s (they didn’t have the bird population counting voluneers we have today).
Although we have eagles year-round, the state’s eagle population peaks when migrating birds come south from Canada in December. By mid-February, some start heading back north to prepare for mating season.
But if you don’t see a bald eagle this winter, not to worry — there’s three at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, and lots of times you’ll find polite, well-informed volunteers who are happy to talk about them.
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