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Eagle Watch on the CT River

February 15, 2025 @ 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Join us for a Winter Eagle Watch on the CT River. This is our 36th year leading Eagle Watches!  Leader Jerry Connolly of The Audubon Shop will help participants spot eagles from a variety of locations on the river, and will discuss the bird’s natural history on this land – based trip. (Not a boat trip). We’ll also spot ducks, birds of prey, songbirds and whatever else comes into view.

Winter’s cold brings dozens of Bald Eagles down the Connecticut River from Canada in search of ice – free fishing. In recent years, over 50 eagles have wintered on the lower Connecticut River. Their 6 – 8 foot wing span make the Bald Eagle the largest predator in North America.

The Bald Eagle’s recovery in our state (since there were none occurring in CT in the 1950’s) is considered a major environmental victory. It is now estimated that up to 100 eagles winter in Connecticut, from December to early March, along major rivers and at large reservoirs. The number of wintering eagles has been increasing slowly, and depends on the severity of each winter.

The natural year-round habitat of bald eagles is near lakes, marshes, rivers, or seacoasts, where there are tall trees nearby for nesting and roosting and fish for eating. Bald Eagles feed primarily on fish, but they also are opportunistic predators and scavengers that will eat anything that can be caught easily or scavenged, such as waterfowl, small and large mammals, and livestock carrion. In addition, they have a reputation as being thieves, and can be seen robbing other raptors or gulls of their catch. Our Winter Eagle Watch will introduce you to this amazing predator.

**Bring your binoculars and camera!

Binoculars may be rented for $4.00 each, please call the shop to reserve.

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Please follow instructions and do the below before you call us, thanks.

  1. Call friends or family who would be interested in joining you
  2. Choose a date
  3. Choose your lunch
  4. Do you need a pair of binoculars? Let us know
  5. Come in or call us with a credit card to reserve your spot

Participants MUST pre-register, and may call us with a credit card to reserve a spot.   203-245-9056

Your $30 ticket includes a delicious soup-of-the-day and sandwich luncheon at Otter Cove Restaurant in Old Saybrook, CT.

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*Please pick one of the following for each person in your group, before you give us a ring:

1. Pulled Pork Sandwich

2. Cheeseburger

3. Chicken Caesar Salad

4. Veggie Melt Sandwich (with cheese)

Included: coffee or tea, soup of the day and sandwich.

Not included: other beverages and gratuity.

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Carpool with Jerry to 5 unique and excellent viewing spots along the river. (This is not a boat trip).

*Where and when to meet?

It depends on where you’re coming from.

*The Audubon Shop, 907 Boston Post Rd in Madison CT at 7:45am

-OR-

*At the first location on the river in Haddam, Eagle Landing State Park, at 8:30am

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*Directions to Eagle Landing State Park for those who live farther away from Madison:

    – RT9 to Exit 7

    – (Long 2 mile exit ramp)

    – Left at stop onto RTS 82 & 154

    – Right at first light onto RT 82

    – Follow towards Haddam Bridge

    – Take the last driveway on the right BEFORE the bridge into Eagle Landing State Park