A personal record - Eagles

[Pete McMiller]

This time of year we see an influx of Eagles, particularly on the Mississippi River. In recent years I have seen quite a few in the pool 8 and 9 areas. A couple of years ago from one spot I counted 32. I had a GE stolen by one another year. Yesterday morning I decided to count what I could see through my binoculars in a 180 degree span in front of me. Amazingly I counted 60, yes SIXTY, Eagles or Osprey. I can't say how many exactly were Osprey but I know a few of them were but would guess fewer than 10%. We have had a substantial coot die off due to some type of Nematoad ( I think that's the cause) and I saw the Eagles feeding on them constantly the past several weeks. No camera except my phone and they were too far away to take phone pics with. I did see 7 Eagles in one tree at once and 10 on one sandbar. Really an amazing sight.

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

We have increased numbers here in Northern VA too. A pair are seen every day in a small pond island near my work. Traditionally this pond produced a huge goose hatch, some 50 or 60 goslings typical.... this spring, I saw the normal gosling hatch, and 2 days later the eagles arrived... and the hatch was gone in a week. Don't think most of the goslings could have left the area as it is hemmed in with busy roads, and no other water. The geese can afford the loss in our area! Neat to see the eagles!

Dave

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Numbers are definitely up here, too.

It's estimated that in the late 1970's Maine was down to something like 50 nesting pairs, and very few anywhere else in the northeast. When eagles were delisted in 2009, Maine was up to 477 nesting pairs, plus lots of juveniles and unmated adults.

I did not see an eagle while hunting on Saturday--and I think that's the first time all year, other than a few trips to small pocket marshes where we wouldn't expect them.

We watched an adult eagle take a goldeneye off the Kennebec River from the window of our favorite Thai restaurant a few years ago.

 

[Al Hansen]

That is great news, Pete. Keep it up.
Al

 

[Mark Harter]

They had to introduce breeding pairs here in LA. If I am in Manchac or Joyce - off Lake Ponchatrain I always see at least one.
In Morgan City on Lake Verret they have an Eagle viewing festival every winter. Great story to see the majestic bird back and healthy here in Louisiana.

 

[Phil Nowack]

They are all over. 3 or 4 years ago I count 22 in 1 mile stretch on the Turkey River by my house... the Turkey is at most 20 yards wind.. and fairly shallow.