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Chat - Sunday, February 8, 2009; Rise & Shine Sunday!
Topic Started: Feb 8 2009, 04:03 AM (2,325 Views)
colecuts1
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harpo516,Feb 8 2009
08:37 AM
As cricket pointed out - we were on the east side of the Hudson River - by Croton area - the eagles come there to winter each year! :><:

Oops! My mistake. But how funny, we were planning to visit Croton with some friends next week!

Thanks for setting me straight.

Cin

Hey does anyone know if IWS have a presence on facebook?
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ostrich2
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Yesterday I went to the bald eagle workshop in Cambridge (which is about 45min west of the city).

Quote:
 
Overwintering Bald Eagles along the Grand with Bill Wilson and Andy
Steinberg

For the past ten years, a group of volunteers have monitored
overwintering bald eagles along the Grand River through rare. The
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources uses the data, which includes
eagle perching, roosting and feeding sites, to map the wintering habitat
of this endangered species. Join Group Leaders Bill Wilson and Andy
Steinberg for a Bald Eagle monitoring session. Bill and Andy will be
connected by FRS radio to other monitors along the river who will alert
them to the location of any eagles in the area that morning. At the end
of the outdoor portion of the outing, the group will return to the rare
admin building for hot drinks and informal discussion about bald eagles,
the monitoring project and the significance of eagles along the river.


The day started off well in that we had very unseasonably warm weather on Saturday (just below freezing, when it can be -20 or worse in February :8O: ). That made it much nicer standing outside watching for eagles, and I was happy too because the highway west of the city can get some nasty ice and white outs when the winter conditions are bad.

The location is along the Grand River which has open water and fish during the winter - however there is actually only a pretty small wintering bald eagle population - maybe 15 or 20 birds. The folks doing the bald eagle monitoring go to different locations along the river on Saturday mornings and record any eagles seen. From collecting data the last few years there are some specific areas where they are seen most often, where there are good roosting spots and places to watch for fish.

Ordinarily we'd have to wait until folks from the monitoring locations reported in to find out where the eagles are but we were pretty lucky - before we even got going in the morning an eagle landed at the top of a tree right across the street. :**:

Posted Image

That's really lucky for these eagles, and they are not tolerant of humans and they make sure that people don't get closer than 300 yards during the winter to make sure they aren't disturbed. Apparently that's by far the closest they've seen one during one of these workshops.

The eagle stuck around for a couple of minutes in the tree and then flew a bit further down the road and perched in another tree. We got some really good looks at it through the spotting scope, and then walked a bit further down the road to where there's a lookout spot looking for other eagles. We saw a juvie fly by doing downriver but I didn't get a picture of that one.

Posted Image

We got a report of an eagle perched at another location not too far down the road so we went over there and saw one perched far across the river on the other side in a tree. I didn't bother with a picture of him since we were so far away at that location - I feel so spoiled having been able to see some eagles really up close - the folks there get excited when they see more closer than a few hundred yards away rofl There was also a RT perched in the trees.

We also went to a location where there's a confluence of the Grand and another river, and that is a spot where there are some favorite eagle perches. With only 10-20 around the region at all though you may not find them at any particular spot, and there weren't any perching there when we went by. There were lots of ducks around though.

This is where the confluence is - the eagles like to perch in the trees at the opposite side:

Posted Image

I forget what kind of ducks these are.

Posted Image

There was also an osprey platform at the top of a power pole just along the highway. The osprey don't stick around in the winter though so they weren't around.

Posted Image

After we got back we had a slide presentation with more information about the local wintering population. There are no known active nests inland along the Grand at present - you have to go all the way to Lake Erie to find nesting areas. I took some pictures of the displays (you might need to enlarge them a bit to read them).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79774811@N00/...57613461153797/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79774811@N00/...57613461153797/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79774811@N00/...57613461153797/

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LeicaEagle
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Cricket,Feb 8 2009
06:35 AM
Good morning all.

Fantastic pictures Deb, ES and Gary. I'm sure when George and I go to Tinicum Park we won't see those numbers, but I'm sure will do his best to get good shots if we see anything.


:clk: Well, when we go, i could be persuaded to bring two cameras with very long lenses so we could both see what we can shoot. :<::

D80 with the tamron 200-400mm 5.8 AND
D90 with my fancier 80-200 F2.8 AFD S and TC20E-II 2x converter
Alas, I am only able to lug one of my tripods around at a time but......there is the monopod too i have :D
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harpo516
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colecuts1,Feb 8 2009
11:08 AM

Hey does anyone know if IWS have a presence on facebook?


Facebook:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/151715?m=6...ter_id=28189833
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harpo516
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Ian how great is that - your eagle experiences - what a weekend!

Cin - if you need info around Croton for the eagle watching - where to find - let me know and I'll send you where we go !
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petra
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Cricket,Feb 8 2009
08:00 AM
PEETIE sounds like you have quite a mixture going on there with hail, rain, and snow too. When does your Spring arrive there with all of the beautiful flowers?

march or april.......geeshhh such a long time....
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cdn-cdn
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Just a quick hello from the Jewel of the Seas. Hope all is well with everyone. We fly home tomorrow. :}^
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KareninSoCali
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Posted Image
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mtallent
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Cheryl, have a safe trip home.. :)^
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petra
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yep Cheryl be carefull safe trip home.....
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cdn-cdn
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Ian, so glad that you got to see an eagle so close!

Thank you, Marie and Petra!

Have to log off now.

Panama Canal was awesome, so fascinating.

There are people yakking away in here and I can't concentrate. Unbelievable when I'm trying to type and read quickly. I miss my laptop. Bye for now.
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harpo516
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Cheryl safe trip to you and DH - so looking forward to your thoughts and photos :clk: I'm sure it was all you wanted it to be :Hugs:
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Cricket
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Peetie 1-2 months is not a long time. 2 months ago it was Christmas! Hang in there, you can do it. Keep yourself busy in the meatime. Are you going to see Silvie today?

Cheryl enjoy your final day of cruizing. Looking forward to your pictures when you return.

Karen your comic strip cracked me up. I know my sister Joan would get even a bigger charge out of it.

Deb thanks for the info. I ordered a catalog! I could use a big hat with vents when out Deep Sea Fishing. Maybe that how I ended up with Basel Cell Skin Cancer a few years back. I'll probably need one when George and I go looking for the Eagles.
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wrightflyer
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Cheryl ~ Have fun! Posted Image
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Paula eaglet momster
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harpo516,Feb 8 2009
08:15 AM
colecuts1,Feb 8 2009
11:08 AM

Hey does anyone know if IWS have a presence on facebook?


Facebook:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/151715?m=6...ter_id=28189833

Thanks, Deb!

Cheryl - thanks for popping in! We've missed you!

Ian - what a wonderful day! Nice pics!
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