Tuesday, March 13, 2012

A Soaring Sight on Higby Rd.

Yesterday afternoon at about 5pm, I was driving south on Higby Rd. from Country Club toward 66. As I approached the stop sign at the Sisk St. intersection, I noticed a very large bird flying northeast from the Higby Mountain area. As it crossed overhead at just over tree height, I was able to see that it was a Bald Eagle. He (or she) was just stunning, and it was a real treat to see!

I think of eagles being near the river normally, and so I'm not sure where this one was off to, but the unusual low height to the ground for transit seemed to suggest someplace very local. Here's some interesting facts about Bald Eagles in CT from the DEP website:

The bald eagle was no longer a nesting species (extirpated) in Connecticut by the 1950s. When Connecticut's first official Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species List was passed in 1992, the bald eagle was classified as an endangered species. That same year, the state documented its first successful nesting of bald eagles since the 1950s when a pair raised 2 young in Litchfield County. Leg bands revealed that the nesting pair came from a reintroduction project in Massachusetts sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Five years later, a second pair of bald eagles successfully nested in Connecticut. The nesting population has increased gradually and, in 2010, 18 pairs of bald eagles made nesting attempts in the state. Nesting attempts or territorial pairs have been documented in 6 of the state’s 8 counties. Due to the increase in nesting pairs in recent years, the bald eagle's status in Connecticut was reclassified as threatened in 2010 (emphasis added).

Wintering eagles come to Connecticut looking for open water in which to feed when the land and waters in Maine and Canada are frozen. If harsh weather in Connecticut causes any open water to freeze over as well, the eagles continue to migrate farther south. Up to 100 eagles winter in Connecticut, from December to early March, along major rivers and at large reservoirs. The number of wintering eagles has been increasing slowly, depending on the severity of each winter. With the increase in nesting and wintering eagles in Connecticut, there is still a challenge to reconcile human recreation and shoreline development, which decrease suitable habitat, with the specific needs of this state threatened species.

Despite their large size, eagles are easily disturbed by unpredictable human activity, making delineated protection zones necessary around areas of high eagle use, particularly nest sites and winter roosts. Disturbance at nest sites may cause the birds to abandon their nest, even if there are eggs or young in the nest. Because winter is a stressful time for eagles, it is important that preferred winter feeding areas be protected. If the birds are frequently disturbed from feeding and forced to travel to a different area for food, their lives may be threatened. Adult eagles are more easily disturbed than juveniles.

How You Can Help

Winter is a difficult time for any wildlife species, including bald eagles. Food is harder to find and cold temperatures cause energy stress. If you see one or more eagles feeding or roosting, leave them alone and observe them from a distance.

It is also important to stay away from nesting areas to avoid disturbing the birds. Several Connecticut bald eagle nests are located on private property where there is no public access. Respect posted areas and do not trespass on private property to view eagles.

The Bald Eagle is officially listed as a State Threatened Species, so please try to contain your excitement when you see one (and be careful not to disturb it)! I was so thrilled to see one (a passion from my childhood) in the most unusual place that I almost drove off the road. It's a good thing I didn't have a camera with me or I probably would have crashed for sure. If you're in that part of Westfield and you see an eagle, let us know!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

We live in that area and several years ago our son spotted an eagle from our backyard, soaring very high overhead. At first we didn't believe him - he was only about 5 years old. But we got the binoculars and the eagle checked out! We'll keep our eyes open!

Anonymous said...

Why didn't you take a picture of the bald eagle and post it with your story?

Jane said...

I see them
All the time near the river on rt 9- I too almost crashed when I saw a pair perched in a huge dead tree by the bridge. My daughter used to count the hawks and yelled "mommy those are huge black hawks!" and I was stunned. Last time I saw an eagle in Middletown it was on a poster in class. Now I spot them everywhere on the river

Christine O'Grady said...

I have seen a pair down at the riverbend. They where going in a circle around ieach other. it looked like they were dancing. It was breathtaking. Also saw one overhead on Prospect Street a couple of years ago.

Anonymous said...

I am beginning to think this person made the story up either to have something to write about or to get attention. Her story would have been more credible with a picture of the bald eagle. Doesn't she have a camera phone? If she did have a camera phone why couldn't she snap the picture of the bald eagle?

Ridge Road Resident said...

We were walking by Ravine Park early in December when walked beneath a huge shadow. We looked up and there was an eagle soaring above. Breathtaking!

Jam (Jennifer Mahr) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
extraordinary relationships said...

Thanks for your share about the sighting. On a ride to New Haven yesterday we went up Higby to the intersection of Sisk just to see what we could see. We didn't see the eagle but it brought about a great discussion on habitat locations, eating habits, hunting and for what and where, different types of eagles and of course how many there are and about the possibility of increasing numbers of them. Our homeschooled teenager is a trained Falconer and has a deep connection with and love of these beautiful birds of prey as well. Thanks for bringing the magic of nearby natural beauty alive through your share.

extraordinary relationships said...

Jennifer - I also just wanted to add that your comment back to anonymous (although I know they are being antagonistic)made me feel sad. I think it is better to not respond to those kinds of comments at all. Since your writing is open and available to all it is surely not going to appeal to everyone and of course everyone has their own slant on things, but to see your response turned me off from the entire magical-ness of the experience that you brought to the page through your story. Thanks for entertaining my position on this. Bill Paglia-Scheff 860-209-9254

Jam (Jennifer Mahr) said...

Dear Bill:

I sincerely apologize. Thanks for letting me know.

Jennifer