New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Shepaug Dam opens bald eagle observatory for 38th season
SOUTHBURY — The Shepaug Eagle Observatory is now open for its 38th season, offering residents a unique opportunity to view birds of prey — even bald eagles — in their natural habitat.
The observatory is run by FirstLight, which owns and operates the Shepaug Hydro Generating Station in Southbury, the largest hydroelectric station in Connecticut.
Eagles, hawks and all types of birds of prey flock to the area to feed on aquatic life in the moving waters below the Shepaug Dam and to soar to find places to rest on the banks of the river and in nearby treetops.
“In past years, visitors have witnessed as many as 10 or more eagles in a single day, not to mention a variety of other birds, including redtail hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, goshawks, great blue herons and various waterfowl. We saw an eagle everyday we were open last year,” organizers said in a Facebook post.
Last season marked a record year for eagle sightings at the observatory, with 32 eagles spotted on a single day, the most recorded since 1985, organizers said.
The movement of water below the dam prevents ice from forming so there’s always an abundance of fish upon which the eagles may feed.
The observatory opened for the new season on Saturday, Dec. 23, and it will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 10.
It is free, but reservations are required and must be booked at the Firstlight Shepaug Eagle Viewing website. Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and to bring binoculars.
Specialists and volunteers from the Connecticut Audubon Society are onsite with spotting scopes to help visitors see the eagles in action and answer questions about our national symbol.
Bird of Prey programs are offered on some dates. CT Audubon will present birds and offer programs every Saturday except for Dec. 23 and Dec. 30. Horizon Wings will present their birds on Jan. 14, Feb. 11 and March 10, which are all Sundays. Christine’s Critters will present their birds on Wednesday, Dec. 27; Sunday, Jan. 28; and Sunday, Feb. 25.
Over the years, the Shepaug Bald Eagle Observatory has hosted more than 160,000 visitors, including families, bird enthusiasts and nature lovers, with many hoping to glimpse the elusive bald eagle, which was chosen as a national emblem of the United States by the Continental Congress of 1782,.
In 2007, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from the list of federally endangered and threatened species. But the raptor is still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Bald eagles are frequently spotted at this time of year at the Firstlight observation deck in Southbury and at watershed habitats located throughout Connecticut.
Up to 100 eagles spend their winter in Connecticut, from December to early March, along major rivers and at large reservoirs, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The number of wintering eagles has been increasing slowly, depending on the severity of each winter, DEEP said.