This Saturday, January 10, we're looking for sharp eyes to help find
eagles on the White River. As part of Vermont's annual mid-winter
eagle survey, coordinated statewide by Audubon Vermont, several of
us will survey the White River from Sharon to White River Junction.
This route has had Bald Eagles in several years, and there is always
the possibility of a wayward Golden Eagle. We'll drive the route at
a leisurely pace, stopping frequently to scan the river, where we'll
likely see at least some waterfowl, as well as other winter birds
along the route. I expect the survey to take about 2 hours. We'll
stop at the Wilder Dam afterwards, where we'll be almost sure to
find a Bald Eagle or two, although someone else is conducting the
"official" survey there.
For anyone wishing to join George Clark, Sara Eisenhauer and me,
we'll have two meeting/carpooling spots. One will be at the Ledyard
Bridge park-and-ride, where we'll meet at 8:30 am. The second will
be at the Sharon park-and-ride, where we'll convene at 9:00 am,
meeting Ed Hack. For those meeting us in Sharon, I won't be
returning there, so someone in addition to me would need to drive.
Although the weather forecast calls for somewhat warmer temperatures
than today's, please dress warmly and wear winter boots. Bring
binoculars and a spotting scope if you have them. We'll be in and
out of vehicles frequently, and walking short distances, but this is
primarily a roadside survey.
I'll hope to see some of you this Saturday.
Chris
P.S. In the crab apples by Fogg's Hardware in Norwich this morning,
there was a mixed flock of >100 Cedar Waxwings (I counted 105,
but there were likely 125+), 12 American Robins, and 65 European
Starlings. I looked closely for a Bohemian among the waxwings, but
no such luck.
--
Chris Rimmer
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
P.O. Box 420
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-1431 ext. 1
http://www.vtecostudies.org