January 25, 2009 - Agile Anglers

Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

They begin drifting into northeastern Pennsylvania in late November and by mid-winter number up to several hundred spread out along the upper reaches of the Delaware River. They come for the fishing. Rather than relying on line and lure these anglers use a swoop and snatch approach to catching fish. Acute eyesight, powerful wings and grasping talons are the tools of wintering Bald Eagles. These migrants from Canada congregate around open water perching on branches over shallows and rapids often along islands and sandbars where there is little human activity. While most eagles take a wait and watch approach to catching their dinner, some are more active, wading the shallows and grabbing for a fish. Whichever method is successful the food helps prepare eagles for the upcoming breeding season just a couple of months away.

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.