Eagles Concert - on the Delaware

*** Update 3/17/05*** See published newspaper article using one of the photos below!!

We have always been aware that eagles winter over on the upper Delaware River above Port Jervis, NY.  In fact, we've seen them on numerous occasions from a distance either sitting in a tree on the far side of the river or hovering several hundred feet above the river valley.  On Saturday, January 26, 2005, that all changed!

My wife and I were lucky enough to find a place where a large density of eagles congregates to take advantage of the fish kill that occurs when water is released from an upstream dam.  On that day we observed in the neighborhood of fifty eagles along a ten mile stretch.  All were in the process of feeding on alwives that had been released from the dam that morning.

As you can see, we were lucky enough to get real close for some once in a lifetime(?) photo ops!

Tech notes: Nikon D100 DSLR; Nikkor 300mm AF F4 ED; Nikkor 80-200mm AF ED-IF; Nikon TC-14B 1.4X Teleconverter .  Gitzo G2228 Carbon Fiber tripod with Arca-Swiss B1 ball head.  Note that on the D100, due to the DSLR 1.5X factor, the equivalent focal length of the 300mm with the 1.4X teleconverter attached is a 630mm f5.6.  Also, because the TC-14B is a manual optic, all of these photos were taken using both manual focus and manual exposure.

Scroll down to see the photos . . .

Adult female takes flight This bird sat above my head for about 10 minutes. I was lucky enough to be ready when she took flight!	Adult female forages for alwives This female patrolled the edge of this ice for almost 20 minutes. She found numerous dead alwives reight along the edge. This shot was taken from 75'.	Female examines fish bits Here, the female has just devoured a fish scrap.
Mom & Pop eagle. According to the locals, this mature pair is resident to the area. Their nest is visible not far from where this photo was taken.	Yearling. This is one of last year's hatchlings. Younger birds seem to be less wary of human activity. This one sat perched on the edge of the river while I shot away from about 50' below.	Attack! Here, a yearling lines up on a target swimming in the Delaware. Taken from about 250' away.