ExiledInIllinois Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 For the last two January's bald eagles have been spotted nesting here in South Chicago. This has to be the first time in well over 100 years that such a thing is taking place. The water is also freezing very solid in parts along this stretch of river. Who would have thought it? Eagles back in an area that for years upon years has been totally devoted to heavy industry... Even within the limits of superfund sites. Things must be getting better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 Eagles are all over Essex CT. I have the river in my backyard and they fly and you can view the eagles all winter long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 1, 2006 Author Share Posted January 1, 2006 Eagles are all over Essex CT. I have the river in my backyard and they fly and you can view the eagles all winter long 547103[/snapback] Cool! What is the condition of that stretch of the Connecticut River? This area here was VERY BAD. Amazing they are this close to an area like Gary, Ind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromagnum Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 DDT was devastating to birds of prey, thankfully it was banned in this country... I noticed redtail hawks sightings increase in the mid 90's along with falcons and eagles coming back...First time I saw a eagle was 4 years ago while saltwater fishing, the eagle attempted to pluck a fish out of the water and missed.. Went back up circling and swooped again, another miss... Third time came down and smashed the water, pulled up what looked to be a 2lb.mullet, that was awesome .... The wildlife is coming back, again thanks to those who cared to clean up the poisons that were the blame... I remember in the 70's the rivers would change colors weekly red, yellow, and tan along sections of rivers that ran through mill industrial areas, if you wanted to see a eagle, you watched wild america or grizzly adams on tv... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 Cool! What is the condition of that stretch of the Connecticut River? This area here was VERY BAD. Amazing they are this close to an area like Gary, Ind. 547366[/snapback] The river is nice by me. It is about a mile from the Long Island Sound and the surrounding area is rural. Its a nice part of the state Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomcat Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 pulled up what looked to be a 2lb.mullet 547439[/snapback] Damn, the guy who got the haircut must be feeling lighter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Bald eagles are White Sox and Bears fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 A 2 pound mullet???? Are you sure he didn't grab Doug Flutie's head while out taking a swim?????? AHhhhhhhh, I slay me! That was pretty funny, I don't care who you are...... DDT was devastating to birds of prey, thankfully it was banned in this country... I noticed redtail hawks sightings increase in the mid 90's along with falcons and eagles coming back...First time I saw a eagle was 4 years ago while saltwater fishing, the eagle attempted to pluck a fish out of the water and missed.. Went back up circling and swooped again, another miss... Third time came down and smashed the water, pulled up what looked to be a 2lb.mullet, that was awesome .... The wildlife is coming back, again thanks to those who cared to clean up the poisons that were the blame... I remember in the 70's the rivers would change colors weekly red, yellow, and tan along sections of rivers that ran through mill industrial areas, if you wanted to see a eagle, you watched wild america or grizzly adams on tv... 547439[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UConn James Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Where I live, dubbed the Last Green Valley, there was quite a selection of birds this past fall. Hooded Mergansers (my favorite to watch), a blue heron (I think they're on the endangered list. An absolutely beautiful creature), the usual Canada geese (the dirtiest, loudest creatures ever. I hate them), wood ducks, mallards, and for the first time I've seen them en masse so far from the ocean, seagulls. It's nice to see the numbers of bald eagles, hawks, and these birds rising, but the fact that they're hovering around cities isn't surprising. Lots of food sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 5, 2006 Author Share Posted January 5, 2006 Bald eagles are White Sox and Bears fans. 549884[/snapback] Hey... I will NEVER BE A BEARS FAN! Only time I rooted for them was in the 1985 SB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 5, 2006 Author Share Posted January 5, 2006 DDT was devastating to birds of prey, thankfully it was banned in this country... I noticed redtail hawks sightings increase in the mid 90's along with falcons and eagles coming back...First time I saw a eagle was 4 years ago while saltwater fishing, the eagle attempted to pluck a fish out of the water and missed.. Went back up circling and swooped again, another miss... Third time came down and smashed the water, pulled up what looked to be a 2lb.mullet, that was awesome .... The wildlife is coming back, again thanks to those who cared to clean up the poisons that were the blame... I remember in the 70's the rivers would change colors weekly red, yellow, and tan along sections of rivers that ran through mill industrial areas, if you wanted to see a eagle, you watched wild america or grizzly adams on tv... 547439[/snapback] Eagles and other birds of prey had eggs with thinner shells, right... The DDT up the food chain greatly effected them... I am not sure. Any help? It is suprising here because back in '97 the USGS "shocked" the lower pool just below the controlling works... They were pulling carp out that were 40 and 50 pounds! They said outside Detroit they seen big ones but, not as large as in this area. The thing that gets me is, the same "hot" sediment that has been here for years has got to be lingering in these mambo carp... Wouldn't it affect eagle populations?... Or are they very picky eaters and only eat the game fish (with lower lake elevations and the subsequent partial rise, cat-tails, reeds, and the exoctics make excellant breeding areas for bass and other game fish.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromagnum Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 Eagles and other birds of prey had eggs with thinner shells, right... The DDT up the food chain greatly effected them... I am not sure. Any help? Yes the ddt was more accumated in fish which the birds of prey ate and and resulted in greater increase of ddt, which thinned the eggshells It is suprising here because back in '97 the USGS "shocked" the lower pool just below the controlling works... They were pulling carp out that were 40 and 50 pounds! They said outside Detroit they seen big ones but, not as large as in this area.Carp must be related to the roach, they thrive in grime. The U.S. fish and game imported the carp from asia, because of dwindling native gamefish. I was canoeing the merrimack river in manchester N.H. back in the 80's and the westside of town was not hooked up to the sewage treatment plant on the eastside, so that side of the river dumped raw sewage. You would see the carp skimming the surface like it was plankton. The carp looked to be 20 to 40 lb's , carp whats not for dinner. The state was forced to connect to the eastside, or the highway funds would be in jeopardy, it was connected. Downstream the river supplies drinking water to northeastern massachussetts. The thing that gets me is, the same "hot" sediment that has been here for years has got to be lingering in these mambo carp... Wouldn't it affect eagle populations?... Or are they very picky eaters and only eat the game fish (with lower lake elevations and the subsequent partial rise, cat-tails, reeds, and the exoctics make excellant breeding areas for bass and other game fish.) 554172[/snapback] Eagles do not have a selective fish menu that I know of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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