Rod, Gun and Game: Eagles live to soar in WNY

Have you ever driven down the highway and noticed a small spot in the sky that you suddenly realized was a bird? While we have quite a few different birds of prey here in New York, the most handsome and gracious of these is the bald eagle.

Winter is the best time to view New York’s bald eagles, as well as ones from outside the state that choose New York as their wintering-over habitats. Zoar Valley has multiple nesting sites and nesting pairs.

Wintering eagles arrive here in December with concentrations’ peaking in January and February - right about now. Eagles are most active between 7 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 5 p.m. Scan the treetops for eagles or watch the sky. These birds like heavily-wooded areas near water with tall trees for nesting and perching. The New York State Department of Natural Resources reported that bald eagles eat a lot of fish, so watch the ice flows or islands in the creek for eagles enjoying a meal. In the winter, check for areas of open water or where tributaries enter the main flow of the creek.

To view the eagles, grab a pair of binoculars; spotting scopes and telescopes are also popular. Dress warmly during winter walks along Zoar Valley and other eagle nesting areas and wintering sites.

Ever since 1782, the bald eagle has represented our freedom, but the strength of this 30-inch tall bird appears hidden until it spreads its wings to fly, offering a span of feathers and muscles that stretches 6 - 7 feet!

From about 1960 through the mid-1970s or so, reports from various sources show that New York’s bald eagle population had been reduced from very few to only one nesting bald eagle pair.

While the bald eagle once populated New York with more than 70 nesting pairs, the lack of knowledge with the development and use of killer pesticides such as DDT and other chemicals, contaminated the prey that eagles consumed, weakening the eagles themselves and affecting their ability to reproduce, as the eggshells could not hold out during incubation.

Rural construction and an expanding suburbs also removed eagle habitats and the habitats of deer, wolves and more.

Several groups are working together to bring the bald eagle back to prominent status in New York. Thanks to them, the state’s mating pairs have increased to 173.

Bald eagles mate for life, often longer than 30 years. Nests are reused and new nests are added each year. They are often more than 6 feet across and 8 feet deep and weigh hundreds of pounds. The eagle’s 2-inch-long talons are deadly hunting tools and during nest building; researchers have determined the talon grip can exert 1,000 pounds of pressure per square inch.

The eastern part of New York state offers far more eagles for viewing. The Hudson River, the Upper Delaware River watershed and sections of the St. Lawrence River provide excellent winter eagle viewing opportunities. The Department of Environmental Conservation works cooperatively with the Eagle Institute and the National Park Service to help visitors find and properly observe wintering eagles.

Harassing, disturbing or injuring a bald eagle is a federal offense and carries a penalty of up to $20,000 and/or one year in jail. While not all eagle sightings need to be reported to the DEC, certain observations are helpful to the DEC in managing and protecting eagles. The DEC requests observers to contact the endangered species unit if they see adult eagles between April 15 and June 15, as this could lead to the discovery of new nesting pairs. Four or more eagles in one location, especially after 3 p.m., could reveal a new winter roost site, which is considered a significant find.

More than 20 nesting pairs of bald eagle were recorded in Region 9 in 2010. Of these, 15 of the pairs were successful in rearing fledglings. There were six sites near or in Allegheny State Park in Cattaraugus County, nine sites in Chautauqua County with eight of those in the western part of the county, three sites in Alleghany County, four sites along the Cattaraugus Creek Zoar Valley line in southern Erie County and four more in the Oak Orchard Wildlife Refuge area.

Send information 10 days in advance to nugdor@yahoo.com.