Merrill Creek Reservoir's resident
bald eagles have begun their thirteenth nesting season in 2011.
The story of the Reservoir's nesting bald eagles began in the
fall of 1997. Bald eagles are usually spotted gliding over our
hawk watch during the fall. They are occasionally joined by golden
eagles also passing through on their migratory journey.
What was different about this pair of adult bald eagles was that
they decided to hang around. Instead of using Merrill Creek as
a pit stop to rest and refuel on some fish or waterfowl, they
settled in. During the spring and summer of 1998, our optimism
grew that they may indeed nest. Along the western shore of the
reservoir, the eagles constructed three crude "house-keeping"
nests. A biologist from the New Jersey Endangered and Non-game
Species Program explained that these practice nests were almost
always observed the year before a pair of bald eagles mate and
establishes a real nest.
In the winter of
1999 continued observation of the eagles revealed that Merrill Creek would
become only the second nesting location for bald eagles in the Northern half of
the state!
The Merrill Creek Naturalists, Jane Bullis and Jim Mershon,
have kept a close eye on the eagles ever since. Using a spotting scope and
observing from across the reservoir at the I/O Tower parking lot, they are able
to track the eagles nesting cycle without disturbing them.
Have
you seen Eagle Activity? Please share it with us!
E-Mail: Jane Bullis or Jim Mershon
Please remember that
these birds are very sensitive to human disturbance! Do not attempt to walk or
boat within 300 yards of the eagle nesting area. The best observation point is
from the Inlet/Outlet Tower parking lot.
To reach this area, park at
the parking lot off of Fox Farm Road.
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