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WORDS ON BIRDS
Eagles continue to put on a show
February 24, 2007
Steve Grinley
As you have probably read by now, or hopefully
experienced, the Bald Eagle Festival was a smashing success. About 20
to 25 bald eagles, the most in more than a decade, put on a
spectacular show. Whether you joined a tour or went on your own to any
of the designated "eagle watching sites," you were sure to see eagles.
I had a birding trip Sunday morning and we went to the Ferraz Shawmut
building, where we watched two adult and two immature eagles on an ice
float, traveling up river on the incoming tide!
We saw nine eagles from that one spot. We later went to
Plum Island and watched a snowy owl devour voles less than 50 yards
from the Refuge road near Lot 3. A short-eared owl was also hunting
the marsh in midday.
All week, people have been asking at the store, as well
as at the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center, if the eagles are
still around and, if so, where they could find them. The next few
weeks may be your last chance to catch sight of bald eagles on the
Merrimack River this season. Except for a few local birds that may
attempt to nest again upriver, the majority of these raptors will soon
leave to return to their breeding grounds in New Hampshire, Maine and
eastern Canada. Those leaving here for more northern breeding grounds
will nest April to June, as do the majority of bald eagles that nest
in central Massachusetts. For those of you that escape to Florida for
the winter, it may interest you to know that eagles in Florida breed
in November and December to escape the hottest portion of year.
Until their departure, bald eagles may be seen anywhere
along the Merrimack River from Newburyport Harbor to West Newbury. The
best local viewing is usually along the river from Cashman Park west
to beyond the Interstate 95 bridge near Maudslay State Park. Good
vantage points are from Cashman Park or from any of the marinas along
Merrimack Street in Newburyport; from Deer Island at the Chain Bridge
looking down river toward Eagle Island; from Old Merrily St. to the
right just across the Chain Bridge in Amesbury looking down on the
river; or from Main Street, Amesbury, looking across the river for
eagles perched in the pines and birches near the Newburyport Pumping
Station and Maudslay State Park.
As many as nine eagle have been seen from the Pumping
Station off Spring Lane on the Newburyport side, where the frozen
Merrimack opens to flowing water, allowing the eagles to fish. Bald
eagles are also occasionally spotted in the harbor from the seawall on
Water Street or from the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Center. They are
even sometimes found riding on ice floats down the river as we saw
them on Sunday.
The adult bald eagle with its white head and tail is
easily recognized ,while the immature eagle is mostly all dark-brown
with some white in the body or wing linings, depending on its age. It
is distinguished by its large size and enormous 7- to 8-foot wingspan.
Searching the waters and shoreline of the Merrimack can
reward you with close-up views of our national birds perched, soaring
and even catching fish along the river. Eagles prefer fish but they
will eat ducks or small mammals in winter. Their keen eye sight helps
in pursuit of their prey. Eagles have two to three times greater
vision than do humans. It is their most developed sense. The eagles'
talons are its real weapon. When diving upon its prey, it spreads its
talons out in a cross-like fashion. Its hind toe is its most powerful
with the longest, strongest talon. When striking, the force of impact
drives the hind talon into the side of its quarry while the others
encircle it. Eagles use their sharp beak to tear open their prey and
will consume it bones and all. Their strong stomach acids dissolve the
bones.
So if you missed the festival, or you were there and
just can't get enough, go out to one of these sites along the river
and scan the trees and the sky for eagles. If birders are there with
scopes, they will certainly let you have close-up views of these
majestic birds. Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats
Newburyport, MA
BirdWSG@Verizon.net
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