Golden Eagles! 12/13/2024.

After hearing from Kevin R. that a Golden Eagle is occasionally seen flying over Clover Valley in our Easton, MA location, I began researching where to see this magnificent bird. Biologists estimate that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 Golden Eagles in the United States, with the vast majority being in the West. There is also a small breeding population of Golden Eagles in northern Ontario and Quebec that migrate through the Eastern US down to more southern states. These are the ones that probably migrate through Easton, MA. A wintering population in the eastern United States seems to also exist, and I used ebird species maps to try and locate recent and past sightings. I couldn't believe that the best winter sightings in the east were literally minutes from where I was born in Pawling, NY and also not far from where I grew up in New Fairfield, CT! Of course, I put together an overnight trip to look for these beauties, the supreme US raptor, as well as to visit my old home and loved ones. Luck was on my side both that afternoon and the next morning as I saw three Golden Eagles (#511 lifer!), five Bald Eagles, and countless Red-tailed and Cooper's Hawks. Wow!