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!