Destination Thursday: Bald Eagle Watching at Pymatuning State Park

As recently as the 1970s, there was only one known eagle nest in Pennsylvania, at Pymatuning Lake in Crawford County. During 2002, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported 63 nesting pairs of eagles in the state, an increase of more than 150 percent in five years. Today, Pymatuning Lake supports the largest concentrations of nesting bald eagles in the state. Lancaster County has the second largest population, as a result of eagles dispersing from the Chesapeake Bay, which harbors one of the largest bald eagle populations in the eastern United States.

The large, diverse, wetland complex of Pymatuning Reservoir is a popular bird watching area. According to WPC Volunteer and avid birdwatcher Kate St. John, you can see bald eagles and their spectacular aerial courtship during late winter if you have binoculars and stand on the front patio of the Pymatuning State Park Learning Center.

"Their nests are huge structures made of sticks and are easy to spot as dark masses in the trees," St. John said. "If an eagle is on the nest, you'll see his/her white head above the edge." She advises you to dress warmly and be patient. "The eagles fly frequently over the lake and treetops. You'll have to stand around a bit, but it's worth it if you see them in courtship flight when the pair locks talons and tumbles out of the sky together. Quite exciting!"

Wildlife enthusiasts are permitted throughout the Game Lands on roads and public access areas. Just obey posted signs marking restricted areas.

Today's photo is courtesy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

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