Although the winter solstice has not officially arrived yet, we are well into December and along with it, some snow has fallen and ponds have iced over. By the time you read this, the Delaware River …
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Although the winter solstice has not officially arrived yet, we are well into December and along with it, some snow has fallen and ponds have iced over. By the time you read this, the Delaware River and Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area might have some frozen waterways; the ice-free portions of these rivers and lakes will attract many resident and migratory bald eagles as they forage for fish.
As you look for bald eagles in some of these areas, keep an eye out for another species of eagle that is only seen in the winter in this region: the golden eagle.
Golden eagles may be found in the area from around November till March. The ones seen over the winter here spend the rest of the year in Canada, where they breed. Unlike bald eagles, they do not need to be near the water; they feed on mammals as their main staple. They are not above scavenging, as bald eagles do, on road-killed animals such as deer.
Their migration usually covers great distances. One captured by the NYSDEC in January 2008 was tracked to its nest in northern Labrador, 1,280 miles north of Narrowsburg, NY. An image of this 14-pound female adult being released can be found at www.journeynorth.org/tm/eagle/MeetEagleR24.html.
The golden eagle is not plentiful in the region, but hopefully you will be able to spot a golden eagle perched—or in flight—this winter. An area where you can see flying birds easily will increase your odds.
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