Flights of Fancy: Eagles Arrive in the Connecticut River Valley
This weekend kicks off the Eagles of Essex exhibit at the Connecticut River Museum and EagleWatch 2012.
Wintering eagles land in Connecticut on a yearly basis from December through March in search of open waters in which to feed. Nearly 100 eagles, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, migrate south to the state when the waters in Maine and Canada become too frozen to find food. The number of eagles fluctuates and is dependent upon the harshness of Connecticut’s winter. If the waters in this state are too frozen, the eagles will continue their trek southward.
This time of year, many of these spectacular birds can be seen along the Connecticut River where they prefer to settle in the brackish river estuary around the towns of Chester and Essex.
To spy America’s honored national emblem, head to Essex for these eagle-related events:
Friday, Feb. 3- Sunday, March 11
EagleWatch 2012
Get an up-close view and learn the fascinating story of the majestic bald eagle on a 1.5-hour tour aboard Project Oceanology's 65' Enviro-lab III with heated cabin and ample deck area. The event includes:
- Admission to Museum and Eagles of Essex exhibit
- Binoculars and free coffee
- Naturalist and educators as guides
- Hands-on participation in water quality study
EagleWatch 2012 takes place every Friday from Feb. 3 – March 9 at 1 p.m. and every Saturday & Sunday through March 11 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The cost is $40 per person and children under the age of 6 are not allowed on board. Call ahead for reservations at 860-767-8269.
Saturday, Feb. 4
Opening Day of Eagles of Essex Exhibit, CT River Museum
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Drop-in arts and crafts, eagle nest building, bird watching with binoculars and additional activities in the exhibit gallery. Activities are free with paid admission to the museum. Museum members are admitted free. The exhibit will run until March.
The Eagles of Essex answeres the questions of why so many bald eagles winter here and how they went from near-extinction to becoming one of the greatest environmental come-back stories in history. Amateur photographers are invited to submit their digital shots of eagles or other river raptors for inclusion in the exhibit.
The CT River Museum is located at 67 Main Street in Essex.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Bird Photography Tips, CT River Museum
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Learn the basic do's and don'ts to photographing birds from international nature photographer Stanley Kolber in this one-hour workshop. The event is free with paid museum admission. Museum members are free.
Sunday, Feb. 19
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Free Birds of Prey Show, Essex Town Hall
Meet live birds of prey and learn their individual stories of survival. Presented by Horizon Wings and co-sponsored by the Essex Garden Club and Potapaug Audubon Society. Limited seating capacity - first come, first seated.
For additional information on eagles in Connecticut, visit the DEEP website.
Gene Bartholomew
10:47 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Wonder if they ever cover the facts of the Eagles rebound from near extinction??
Don't forget while your enjoying watching the Eagles to thank a Liberal, if it wasn't for the people who fought the govt and chemical companies they would be gone.
Starting with biologist Rachel Carson who published a book in 1962 about the releasing of large amounts of pesticides into the environment, mostly DDT, without understanding their effect. Her book "Silent Spring" is considered one of the main catalysts for the the birth of the Environmental Movement.
Todays mentality in the U.S. would not permit such a ban on something a corporation wants.
It's sad we are taught not to listen to our scientists.
I hope somewhere at the festival someone covers this aspect of the Eagles. It is an interesting restrospect of current events, how scientists say what is wrong and how corporations fight back to ensure their product is not eliminated, regardless of the damage it causes, I guess todays example would be "fracking".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT
Jay Heavens
4:44 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
And now Gene's adding his hate-fueled Googled-"facts" to environmental outings announcements. This cartoon is dedicated to Gene Bartholomew - http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=8368. No doubt he will step all over this post, too.
Enjoy the eagles folks - conservatives and liberals alike - the eagles don't care. It makes for a beautiful day along the CT River.
And ignore Gene's lonely, self-serving torrent of posts that will follow this one. He's just a guy screaming on the Internet because no one listens to him in person.
Gene Bartholomew
5:54 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
just what seems to be your problem little boy??
Bill Jones
6:59 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Gene: Do you talk to your lady friends like that? Bad boy.. :)
Gene Bartholomew
9:35 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
not exactly, I'd say "just what seems to be your problem little lady??"
equal rights means equal rights ; )
John Brush
12:09 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Gene needs to chill out with a Micky Slim, a 1950's cocktail made with a healthy shot of gin and a pinch of DDT. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Slim
Gene Bartholomew
9:30 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
are you threatening to poison me?
Sunshine
8:37 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
I usually think that Gene is way over the top (where would one get that idea) but this time he has a point. You just have to read through all of the pain he is displaying. We do have modern environmental challenges, fracking among them. The problem that we have is a lack of real information about environmental issues. The pesticide DDT in retrospect is a no brainer, but the fact is that new environmental issues are obfuscated by those that would rather not know the answer. The collapse of bee colonies around the country has not been explained, nor has it been as aggressively investigated as it should be considering the ramifications. I offer these as examples of Gene having a point, in no way do I endorse his attitudinal issues.
Gene Bartholomew
9:34 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
well sunshine, when your country is going down the tubes along with our way of life just what sort of attitude should one have with people who are upset with you because you just proved to them that they are wrong, have been wrong, and are still wrong and now the best they can do is have hissy fits and call you names and threaten you?????????
John Q. Public
11:29 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
You might think that in retrospect banning DDT is a no brainer, but Fox News and others insist that there is no evidence that DDT was harmful to eagles, and that banning DDT was just a plan to strengthen the liberal cause. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,202447,00.html
Organizations such as Fox have been very effective in convincing people that the mainstream scientific community has a political agenda that is driving their conclusions. This combined with the "job killing EPA regulations" story line has proved to be very effective, especially as people have become much more concerned about their short term welfare than the long term consequences of their actions.
I know that using Fox News and "no brainer" in the same paragraph is just teeing it up, so who's going to be the first to hit it?
Gene Bartholomew
9:45 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Look at the Eagles for instance, logically something was affecting them, it took a while but they found that DDT made birds eggshells soft, so there were no babies, cause and effect, eliminate the cause and eliminate the effect
same with the economy, it was CFMA of 2000 that caused our economy to collapse, if you make a law that eliminates all of the regulations put in place after the 2 crashes in the early 1900's, allows people to bet on the outcome of Wall St, then allows anyone to trade in crude and allows the housing market to lend to anyone what do you think will happen???
The financial system will collapse, everything will suffer from high energy costs and the housing market will crash which will double the impact on the financial market.
Looking for scapegoats like "people buying a house they couldn't afford" and other BS designed to take your eye off the ball is a waste of time.
Don't hate me because I'm right, hate them for screwing us all.
Gene Bartholomew
9:52 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
cause and effect, repeal CFMA of 2000 the cause and eliminate the effect
these scumbags in DC are being told to leave this alone and not to talk about it, they are making billions off this bill, not as a whole, as individuals, trillions of dollars have been transfered once again from the workers to the top 1% and its killing us
they think that eventually the system will repair itself
Jay Heavens
12:52 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012
And Gene destroys yet another piece in this great resource... He takes an innocuous article about enjoying eagles on the CT river and dumps his buckets and buckets and buckets of garbage all over it. This cartoon shows you where he is coming from: http://www.eatliver.com/i.php?n=8368
Gene Bartholomew
8:33 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Jay you need new material, ever hear the term "over"?? which is what are so
its called a comparison dummy
people that get the process of determining what was causing the extinction of Eagles and the cure may be able to apply that to our current economic situation
that is if they are not brainwashed zombies
so Jay, you obviosuly don't like what I say which is truth and fact, so I challenge you to prove me wrong, PROVE ME WRONG, if you have the intelligence and/or ability
do some research, learn, progress into a smarter and smarter citizen, or remain as you are, your call
Jay Heavens
10:28 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
My responses are consistant because they are responses to the same, exact level of hubris you exude. I don't need to get into an Internet debate on your Internet-gleaned "facts" because I don't care enough about you to try and change your mind. Sorry.
Gene Bartholomew
11:04 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
apparently you do
the repub mind is very entertaining, challenge them to show some facts to support their thinking or why they attack you when you post the truth............and the run away screaming snobbish remarks
you get that from Palin, Bachman, McConnel and Boner? monkey see monkey do
Gene Bartholomew
11:06 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Conclusions
Can Americans Learn?
Only what they want to, they also only hear what they want to. They want to hear only what they agree with and they like hate type programs, not educational ones, even The Learning Channel is broadcasting junk. Although more Americans give Congress its lowest ratings ever, they would still vote down party lines. The recurring reelection of Eileen Daily is a good example.
Will They, Can They, Be Objective?
Very few, seems about 20% but it depends on what part of the country you are in.
Are They Opened Minded?
Again about 20%, most Americans are stuck in a political rut even with the information available on the internet for research; problem is most people surf to networks that say and reinforce what they want to hear, that is not research.
Have Americans inherited the America they deserve?
Undoubtedly.