Search for Eagles 12/19/11 Report
Search for Eagles, Dr. S. Marie Kuhnen - Memorial Field Trip Series, 19 December 2011
The first in a series of four Dr. S. Marie Kuhnen Memorial Field Trips, Search for Eagles, took place in the Delaware Valley on Monday, December 19, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. The day began with watching feeder birds at home and the Pocono Environme ntal Education Center (PEEC) that included, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-cappedChickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and Blue Jays. We logged 148 miles in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Upper Delaware Scenic River from the Bushkill Access. The trip concluded along the headwaters of the Lackawaxen River at 4:15 p.m. Jack Padalino, president emeritus of PEEC and Brandwein Institute, a partner with the National Park Service, led the search that recorded 26 species of birds including seven Bald Eagles (BE), six adults and one immature eagle, 5 Red-tailed Hawks, and one Sharp-shinned Hawk. At the Bushkill Access in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area were American Crows and a Red-tailed Hawk flying across the river from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. No BE were see at the access, at Toms Creek, or at Eshbacks. The second RT was seen just south of the Briscoe Mountain Road near PEEC and a third near the Dingmans Ferry campground. No eagles at the Dingmans Ferry Access. I searched the Dingmans Cemetery where previously I observed adult BEs perched and in flight. None were present. At the historic Callahan House we watched feeder birds. We saw Black-capped Chickadees, Juncos, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal and White-throated Sparrows. Two days previous at 4:30 p.m. I observed two adult BEs fly upstream along the Sawkill and land in the top of a White Pine tree. Last year the BE nest along the Sawkill crashed to the ground and the BEs quickly began constructing another nest in the top of a nearby White Pine tree. There were no BEs at Milford Beach. From the scenic vista in the park at the end of Ann Street no BEs were to be seen on the river.No eagles at the nest over the I-84 westbound lane across from the Kittatinny Camp Ground.
Our next stop was the Riverview Restaurant near where PA, NJ, and NY converge. Twenty-five Canada Geese were present but no eagles. We enjoyed a rest stop at the Pennsylvania Welcome Center. No eagles were seen from the Eddy Pond Resort overlook; however there was in excess of 250 Canada Geese on the river. By noon we were at the Hawks Nest historical marker where Rock Pigeons and American Crows flew above us. Perched beneath us was a Red-tailed Hawk that launched over the river, soared momentarily, then flew down river to perch. The Pond Eddy nest site on the PA shore has been reconstructed. Our first adult BE for the trip was basking in the sun, perched in a White Pine tree high on the ridge on the NY side of the river. As we crossed the bridge approaching the Mongaup Observation Blind an immature BE took flight from a tree upstream, landed on the shore and started feeding on a fish. Also upstream a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree above where the immature BE was feeding. From the blind and across the water from us we observed a perched BE who took flight and perched further downstream. There were no eagles to be seen along Plank Road or from the Rio Reservoir Dam. We returned to the Delaware and traveled upstream until we saw two adult BEs soaring above the ridge proximal to the Pond Eddy road sign. No eagles were seen upriver from the bridge at Barryville, at Minisink Ford observation blind, nor from the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers. A visit the Eagle Institute on weekends would be in order, Here is where videos of area eagles are screened and brochures, newsletters, and information about eagles are made available to visitors. There is a gift shop and the Institute is open weekends. On the north side of the Lackawaxen near the confluence, we were able to locate a BE nest. It is high above the Lackawaxenriver in a White Pine tree. We found it as we were standing in the shopping center parking lot. As we traveled upstream along the Lackawaxen, two adult BEs were seen perched within ten feet of each other. These two adult BEs were near Church Road. Digital images of Eagles from this trip are attached. The eagles’ nest we discovered will be monitored on our future Searches for Eagles: Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012 TO PARTICIPATE IN A SEARCH FOR EAGLES FIELD TRIP
PHONE: 570.296.6752 or EMAIL jack@brandwein.org
AND INDICATE WHICH FIELD TRIP(s) YOU WILL BE ATTENDING.
Meet 8:00 a.m. at the PEEC parking lot OR meet 10:00 a.m. at the Historic Callahan House,
101 Route 209 South @ mile marker 21, Milford, PA – WEATHER PERMITTING.
Dress warmly, bring binoculars, field guides, and a lunch. THEREIS NO CHARGE Eagle observation data that we collect is shared with the National Park Service, members of the Sussex County Bird Club, Eagle Institute, and Hawk Migration Association of North America HMANA.
An Eagle identification field guide and a “Search for Eagles” hand-out is provided for participants by the Paul F-Brandwein Institute. Join us to Search For Eagles, the symbol of our nation! In addition to the 7 Bald Eagles observed were: CanadaGoose – 275 +
CommonMerganser - 2
Sharp-shinnedHawk
Red-tailedHawk – 5
HerringGull – 4
Ring-billedGull - 35
RockPigeon - 15
MorningDove - 6
PileatedWoodpecker
Red-belliedWoodpecker - 2
DownyWoodpecker - 2
HairyWoodpecker
BlueJay - 6
AmericanCrow - 10
TuftedTitmouse - 10
Black-cappedChickadee - 8
White-breastedNuthatch – 2
EasternBluebird - 2
EuropeanStarling - 55
White-throatedSparrow - 2
Dark-eyedJunco - 20
NorthernCardinal
HouseFinch
AmericanGoldfinch - 4
HouseSparrow
Search for Eagles, Dr. S. Marie Kuhnen - Memorial Field Trip Series, 19 December 2011The first in a series of four Dr. S. Marie Kuhnen Memorial Field Trips, Search for Eagles, took place in the Delaware Valley Monday, December 19, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. The day began with watching feeder birds at home and the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) that included, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, andBlue Jays. We logged 148 miles in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Upper Delaware Scenic River from the Bushkill Access. The trip concluded along the headwaters of the Lackawaxen River at 4:15 p.m.Jack Padalino, president emeritus of PEEC and Brandwein Institute, a partner with the National Park Service, led the search that recorded 26 species of birds including seven Bald Eagles (BE), six adults and one immature eagle,5 Red-tailed Hawks, and one Sharp-shinned Hawk.At the Bushkill Access in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area were American Crows and a Red-tailed Hawk flying across the river from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. No BE were see at the access, at Toms Creek, or at Eshbacks.The second RT was seen just south of the Briscoe Mountain Road near PEEC and a third near the Dingmans Ferry campground.. No eagles at the Dingmans Ferry Access. I searched the Dingmans Cemetery where previously I observed adult BEs perched and in flight.. None were present.At the historic Callahan House we watched feeder birds. We saw Black-capped Chickadees, Juncos, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal and White-throated Sparrows. Two days previous at 4:30 p.m. I observed two adult BEs fly upstream along the Sawkill and land in the top of a White Pine tree. Last year the BE nest along the Sawkill crashed to the ground and the BEs quickly began constructing another nest in the top of a nearby White Pine tree.There were no BEs at Milford Beach.From the scenic vista in the park at the end of Ann Street no BEs were to be seen on the river.No eagles at the nest over the I-84 westbound lane across from the Kittatinny Camp Ground.Our next stop was the Riverview Restaurant near where PA, NJ, and NY converge. Twenty-five Canada Geese were present but no eagles.We enjoyed a rest stop at the Pennsylvania Welcome Center.No eagles were seen from the Eddy Pond Resort overlook; however there was in excess of 250 Canada Geese on the river. By Noon we were at the Hawks Nest historical marker where Rock Pigeons and American Crows flew above us. Perched beneath us was a Red-tailed Hawk that launched over the river, soared momentarily, then flew down river to perch.The Pond Eddy nest site on the PA shore has been reconstructed. Our first adult BE for the trip was basking in the sun, perched in a White Pine tree high on the ridge on the NY side of the river.As we crossed the bridge approaching the Mongaup Observation Blind an immature BE took flight from a tree upstream, landed on the shore and started feeding on a fish. Also upstream a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree above where the immature BE was feeding. From the blind and across the water from us we observed a perched BE who took flight and perched further downstream.There were no eagles to be seen along Plank Road or from the Rio Reservoir Dam.We returned to he Delaware and traveled upstream until we saw two adult BEs soaring above the ridge proximal to the Pond Eddy road sign.No eagles were seen upriver from the bridge at Barryville, at Minisink Ford observation blind, nor from the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers.A visit the Eagle Instutue on weekends would be in order, Here is where videos of area eagles are screened and brochures, newsletters, and information about eagles are made available to visitors. There is a gift shop and the Institute is open weekends.On the north side of the Lackawaxen near the confluence, we were able to locate a BE nest. It is high above the Lackawaxen river in a White Pine tree. We found it as we standing in the shopping center parking lot.As we traveled upstream along the Lackawaxen, two adult BEs were seen perched within ten feet of each other. These two adult BEs were near Church Road.Digital images of Eagles from this trip are attached,The eagles’ nest we discovered will be monitored on our future Searches for Eagles:Sunday, January 8, 2012Saturday, February 18, 2012Sunday. March 11, 2012TO PARTICIPATE IN A SEARCH FOR EAGLES FIELD TRIPPHONE: 570.296.6752 or EMAIL jack@brandwein.orgAND INDICATE WHICH FIELD TRIP(s) YOU WILL BE ATTENDING.Meet 8:00 a.m. at the PEEC parking lot OR meet 10:00 a.m. at the Historic Callahan House,101 Route 209 South @ mile marker 21, Milford, PA –WEATHER PERMITTING.Dress warmly, bring binoculars, field guides, and a lunch.THERE IS NO CHARGEEagle observation data that we collect is shared with the National Park Service, members of the Sussex County Bird Club, Eagle Institute, and Hawk Migration Association of North America HMANA.An Eagle identification field guide and a “Search for Eagles” hand-out is provided for participants by the Paul F-Brandwein Institute.Join us to Search For Eagles, the symbol of our nation!In addition to the 7 Bald Eagles observed were:Canada Goose – 275 +Common Merganser - 2Sharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed Hawk – 5Herring Gull – 4Ring-billed Gull - 35Rock Pigeon - 15Morning Dove - 6Pileated WoodpeckerRed-bellied Woodpecker - 2Downy Woodpecker - 2Hairy WoodpeckerBlue Jay - 6American Crow - 10Tufted Titmouse - 10Black-capped Chickadee - 8White-breasted Nuthatch – 2Eastern Bluebird - 2European Starling - 55White-throated Sparrow - 2Dark-eyed Junco - 20Northern CardinalHouse FinchAmerican Goldfinch - 4House Sparrow
