Eagle Country Western New York

Iroquois National Refuge Earl Plato
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On a late glorious spring day back a few years, four of us went over to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge east of Lockport, New York to see nesting eagles and we did. Bob Chambers of Snyder was our “eagle” man. He was responsible for helping to establish a Bald eagle nesting site on Navy Island. At the centre Bob saw the nesting eagle and the eggs on ‘live’ closed circuit TV. We saw her rotate the eggs. Amazing view! Bob is “all efficiency” and he then proceeded to learn as much as he could from the personnel. We saw the “hacking” program on tape in the auditorium. We then went for a drive and an hour walk on the marsh boardwalk. We returned to the centre and dropped Bob off. He had more to share and learn. A volunteer said that there was a rare visitor at the Cayuga Lookout. I knew where this site was but to see a White Pelican made me a little dubious. A few birders were at the lookout. One elderly man had a scope and we saw the pelican, long yellow bill and all. Where did it come from? Then the man turned his Simons scope at a large bird high in the tree on the far side of the pond. It was a Bald eagle! Probably it was the mate to our one back on the nest.
Writer’s Note: Bob Chambers reported two eagles flying over Navy Island. He also said that the eagle pair near Dunnville were doing well. The eagles have landed! Canadian or American? I don’t care, eh.