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DEC Offers Tips for Safe and Ethical Bird Watching in Winter

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Winter is a great time to get outdoors and observe bald eagles and other birds. Some species of birds spend their summers in the tundra and their winters in New York.

Help Keep Wildlife Safe While Viewing

Unfortunately, some birders, in their enthusiasm to photograph birds get too close and flush them—cause them to fly. This can deplete the birds’ energy reserves, and in extreme cases, can cause death. It is better to observe wildlife in a manner that is safe for both you and wildlife.

Some ways to respect wildlife and others around you:

  • View wildlife from a distance using binoculars or a spotting scope.
  • Stay on trails.
  • Only enter private property if you have permission.
  • Park in designated spots or completely off the road, out of travel lanes.

Bald Eagle Viewing in Winter

Wintering eagles begin arriving in December and concentrations peak in January and February. Most are heading to their nests by mid-March. The Hudson River, the Upper Delaware River watershed, and sections of the St. Lawrence River are great places to view bald eagles in the winter. DEC maintains two well-marked viewing areas in the Mongaup Valley on the Rio and Mongaup Falls reservoirs. The following tips will help you have the best possible experience:

  • Don’t do anything to try to make the bird fly.
  • Scan the tree line for eagles that are perched in the tree tops.
  • Look overhead for eagles soaring high in the sky.
  • Arrive early (7 am-9 am) or stay late (4 pm-5 pm), when eagles are most active.
  • Be patient, this is the key to successful viewing.
  • For great photos, view these wildlife photography tips.

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