Bald Eagles On the Move!

In winter, bald eagles that live in certain areas of North America have to leave their nesting areas because those areas freeze up, and the birds cannot find enough food to survive. For example, each year, hundreds of bald eagles overwinter in the Red Wing and Wabasha areas near the Mississippi River in Minnesota. The best viewing opportunities there are in December through March.

image copyright Susan Detwiler

 

By January, many eagles that live in states and provinces to the north have traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to join hundreds of year-round resident bald eagles in California. On some midwinter statewide surveys, more than 1,000 bald eagles have been counted in California. The largest concentration of wintering eagles is found in the Klamath Basin, on the California-Oregon border. Best viewing opportunities are December through March.

 

The start of the new year in Illinois means bald eagle watching season throughout the state. The eagles fly in by the thousands and stay through March. One way to see these birds in their natural habitat is by going on a Bald Eagle Safari in Rock Island.

 

The Delaware River valley is another important wintering habitat for bald eagles. Depending on weather conditions, the eagles begin arriving in mid-December. By mid-March most eagles begin the return to their breeding areas located to the north. Some eagles migrate from as far away as Canada.

 

photo by Scotti Cohn

 

photo by Scotti Cohn

 

Here are some web sites where you can read more about bald eagle migration:

 

National Wildlife Federation

 

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

 

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

 

Bald Eagle Safari

 

Eagle Institute

 

PBS.org

 

Bald Eagle Facts Brochure

 

Here Come the Elephant Seals!

"Most of the year, northern elephant seals live alone. They swim, dive, and hunt. Come winter, they are on the move. They haul out on land, and soon the beach is covered with seals. They squawk, squeak, bellow, belch, grunt, and gurgle." (from On the Move by Scotti Cohn)

copyright Susan Detwiler

"From December through March a breeding colony of elephant seals can be observed from Elephant Seal Overlook near Chimney Rock, above beautiful Drakes Bay. The males are the first to arrive here, in December, to stake out a claim on the beach. Then pregnant females begin to arrive and soon give birth to a single pup. Subadult and juvenile animals arrive and the colony can number close to one hundred animals.  Point Reyes National Seashore is one of only about a dozen sites where northern elephant seals breed worldwide." (sources at links below)

Read more about elephant seals in California:
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_elephantseals.htm
http://www.sfnps.org/elephant_seals
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1115

And ...

Be sure to check out the _elephant seal camera_! 

Got Elephant Seals?

_Año Nuevo State Reserve_ in San Mateo County, California, does!

From the website:

On Saturday and Sunday, January 26 & 27 2013, the Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks will host Seal Adventure Weekend. With a ticket, for one day only, visitors will have extraordinary access to linger for an entire morning or afternoon to view the elephant seals at the peak of the breeding season.

copyright Susan Detwiler

From On the Move by Scotti Cohn and Susan Detwiler:

Most of the year, northern elephant seals live alone.
They swim, dive, and hunt. Come winter, they are
on the move. They haul out on land, and soon the
beach is covered with seals.

Be sure to check out the _elephant seal camera_!