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Jan. 27, 2008 (Sunday) - EAGLE WATCH WEEKEND I (cont.), second day -- Still very very COLD (-16 C. in early morning, warmed to -8 C. in afternoon) but wind very slight, and sunny, thus a much nicer day for gawking at eagles. On my drive from Wolfville through Port Williams, along Church St., then north on Middle Dyke Road, I saw about 20 BALD EAGLES in 3 small bunches before I got to Bill Swetnamšs feeding site at the north end of M.D. Rd., where about 50 more BALD EAGLES were just sitting around in groups in the trees surrounding the field, despite the presence of lots of large chicken carcasses on the ground; I guess they were satiated from an earlier feeding by 9:40 when I arrived. (I also heard from someone today that there were good numbers of eagles at Kingsport.) Assembled there were LOTS AND LOTS OF CARS AND PEOPLE!! for the planned release of the rehabilitated young bald eagle. Nobody counted the gawkers, but it was many more than I have ever seen at one time in one spot for Eagle Watch -- perhaps 60+ cars? and 150+ people??, and of course a real traffic jam! At about 10 a.m. HOPE SWINIMER of Hope for Wildlife (at Seaforth on Eastern Shore) showed up with the trailer containing the eagle, and they drove out into the field to the feeding site. Richard Hennigar shouted an introduction of Hope, and they both explained that this YOUNG BALD EAGLE (prob. first-year, juvenile) had been found in the general Sheffield Mills area in a starved, emaciated state with a damaged tail (cause unknown), i.e. only two remaining tail feathers. Since then it has been at Hopešs rehabš facility, and the dependable food supply at Sheffield Mills was a factor in deciding where and when to release this bird, which was bald eagle no. 6 out of 11 turned in to Hopešs facility in recent months. When Hope took off one side of the trailer, the eagle was startled by the light and became very active. Then she opened the barred gate, and quickly the bird jumped out and then flew toward the road at a very low altitude. I was in the perfect spot, standing with photographer Bob Cote and his wife, so that the eagle flew directly at us and got just far enough airborne to pass over us, then over the road, and to the nearby woods, where it CRASH-LANDED in some small trees or tall bushes. Pat Kelly was also there and took several photos, and sent them out in an e-mail message. The eagle sat in a very awkward position for a few minutes, with one wing extended straight upward. Then it got itself together and perched fairly normally, but only briefly, before it flew further into the trees and disappeared from most peoplešs sight. Hopefully it is OK and will need a bit of time to get itself oriented and see what the other eagles are doing and how they are getting food. Concerning the Eagle Watch activities at the Sheffield Mills Community Hall, yesterday apparently about 400 breakfasts were served; my guess is that that may have been surpassed today, since the ground floor was often full during the middle part of the day; several musicians were providing traditional Celtic music (instrumental), so that the atmosphere was like a boozeless Irish pub?? In mid-afternoon the DVD and TV combination quit functioning, and Bob Cote and I couldnšt get it going again (films of Living East plus Janet and John Fosteršs film of wintering eagles and poultry), but by then most of the gawkers had left. ------------------ Cheers :-) from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204 --------------------- Jim (James W.) Wolford 91 Wickwire Avenue Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 1W3 phone (902)542-9204 (home) fax (902)585-1059 (Acadia Univ. Biology Dept.) e-mail <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> ---------------------- ŗ...... the Earth .....belongs as much to those who come after us as to us; and we have no right, by anything that we do, or neglect to do, to involve them in unnecessary penalties, or to deprive them of benefits which are theirs by right.˛ - John Ruskin ----------------------
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