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"The Plight of the Bald Eagles of Conowingo Dam"
It's been almost a decade since I've been visiting Conowingo Dam. I was able to enjoy the dam before it became world famous, when the peak days of eagle season was host to up to 200 eagles that were busily fishing throught the day.
In the most recent years, there were both environmental challenges, and dam operational challenges that caused the dam to be less hospitable to the eagles. One year Exelon had their permit on hold, and pending approval from the powers to be, the dam sat quiet. The following year, excessive rains caused flooding at the dam making fishing impossible for the eagles. They came, spent two weeks there and then all left after realizing that they had to look elsewhere for their food source.
In that time and following, there became an increase in population of both wildlife photographers and black vultures. Crowding out the eagles that did return. At that time, my high count of eagles dropped to roughly 75+.
This season with unseasonably warm temperatures, the eagles are elsewhere once more. My high count for today was 35+. And those present were fishing very little, even with the dam in near full operation.
This was the first time I witnessed an eagle eating a rock pigeon. But for this year, this is the third report of an eagle eating another bird that I've heard of.
Is it because the fish population in the river has dropped as well? It could certainly explain the low overall eagle count at the dam.
So many factors are influencing the eagles at the dam. And the glory days of the past should be well remembered.
This photograph is copyrighted and may not be used in any way without permission. Contact me at : bjack2man@yahoo.com concerning use.
Juvenile Bald Eagle., Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
Conowingo Dam Harford County, Maryland.
Conowingo Dam, MD
I saw it in Camera VF, it didn't look like normal when it flew over. After I back home I think it is the Crow.
Doing our annual Eagle watching excursion. This was our sister's first time joining us for this always fun adventure.
This is what happens when I get to the Dam to capture some eagles in action (too early), and it is about 40 minutes before sunrise.
I really liked the view there in the low light as dawn took over the river. Conowingo Dam has been around for a long time ... as long as I can remember, as nearly every weekend we crossed it twice when heading to Pennsylvania to camp. I was a child then ... I certainly had no idea 40 years ago when in the back seat of the car going over the Dam (that was always amazing to see as a kid, and it was the halfway mark between home and the campground) that one day I would be standing below the dam and taking some long exposures ... then capturing bald eagles in action.
This was our third year coming up to Conowingo to watch the eagles fish the Susquehanna River. It never gets old!!
on the Susquehanna River in the northeast corner of Maryland
with some phone fiddling for a vintage look - HSS!
It has been a tough winter for Eagle photography in our area, and this year Conowingo Dam did not harbor its usual amount of wintering Bald Eagles, which was a disappointment to many.
I really liked this image, however the dam was the backdrop, so with a some creative license I textured the background.