August Sunsets & Eagles in Flight
As the warmth of summer peaks across Schoharie County, our young eaglets have taken their inaugural flights from the nests they called home just 15 weeks ago. They will spend the next few months around the nest watching and following their parents, learning how to fish and hunt for their food. Meanwhile, their parents can now hunt for themselves and enjoy some well-deserved time alone. This marks a welcome change after six months of rebuilding nests, nest sitting, and hunting to ensure their young eaglets have the best chance of success.
Soon, you'll start to see juvenile eagles gathering along the Schoharie Creek. Keep an eye out for a large raptor about the size of a Bald Eagle, but with mottled brown and white feathers. Their head and tail feathers don't turn white until they reach 4 years of age. The adults will also start to spend more time together now that their responsibilities for taking care of their young are over for this year.
When a pair of eagles build a nest, that area becomes their nesting site for life. They mate for life and share all the duties of nest building, incubating the eggs, and feeding the baby eagles. Most nests in the county are located along the Schoharie Creek or one of the many large bodies of water in the area, with access to some of the many corn and hay fields that attract numerous small mammals. Over 22 bald eagle nests are in Schoharie County, and one of them, New York State DEC, has been monitoring this nest for 35 years.
Spotting these local eagles in the lush landscape becomes more difficult during the summer months. However, they never stray far from home, so each sighting is a rewarding experience for our Friends who are familiar with their behaviors and hunting habits.
Support our ongoing efforts and educational initiatives by becoming a Friend of the Eagle Trail HERE!
The Schoharie County Eagle Trail also offers educational talks to local community groups and schools in the area. They can be contacted by email at nywild@gmail.com.
Tour With Combs Wildlife Photography
Tours of the Eagle Trail make great birthday gifts, weekend adventures, with family or something to do while in town for a graduation or wedding! Combs Wildlife provides the transportation, spotting scopes, binoculars, cameras, and local knowledge.
Click on the image to the right to download the full August 2024 “Tales from the Trail” newsletter from the Schoharie County Eagle Trail!
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