Tour attendees will park in the Shuresville Road parking lot and take a bus to the Conowingo Dam. Flickr / Chesapeake Bay Program. The dam is equipped with 11 turbines with a combined generating capacity of 572 megawatts. Please drive slowly and watch for small children/pedestrians. I’ve never seen a bald eagle in the wild (only at the zoo). If such a magnificent animal can exist in the shadow of a power plant that provides electricity to hundreds of thousands of people, then perhaps the Silent Spring that Rachel Carson prophesied is not our inevitable destiny. Change ). That would be an amazing event. I love how easily you give us the details to make for a great trip….I am amazed at all the people and amenities there. Beyond that is the side of the river valley, rising up abruptly, almost vertically, forming a high wall, thickly forested and strewn with giant boulders. Thank you. Annual visit to Conowingo Dam to see hundreds of eagles. When the turbines are running, the intake valves suck in water, and fish, from the reservoir above, spewing them out below—in turn providing a banquet for fish-eating birds. This area also provides access to the river and is a popular fishing location. EDIT: yes, it's Eagle Day Saturday. Water is churning out of the floodgates, and hundreds of seagulls are circling overhead. The Conowingo Eagles Day event to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Conowingo Dam Pavilion which is located at 2569 Shures Landing Road in Darlington. They were on the towers, around the dam and close to the trees near the parking lot. I’ve come to Conowingo Hydro Station to view some of these great birds myself, but I can’t see any. Conowingo Visitor Center. Of course, the Bald Eagles are the stars of the show, even though I was told warblers bring in many bird watchers, (some birdwatchers seen in the gallery below). Once a bird catches a fish, eagles descend from the trees and towers in chase (above). Looks like a torpedo could come out of it! The wildlife park is run and maintained by Exelon Corporation, the owner of the hydroelectric plant. Visitors easily see Bald Eagles, up to 100 of them, from the viewing platforms and paved walkway of the park. At any rate, in the years subsequent to the EPA ban on DDT, the population of bald eagles in the lower 48 states rebounded dramatically, from a low of 412 breeding pairs in 1963 to over 11,000 breeding pairs by 2007, at which point the bald eagle was removed from the list of threatened and endangered species. Conowingo Dam’s Fisherman’s Park. I am almost back at the parking lot when the bald eagle comes soaring in overhead. Free food and drink as well as the presentation of other raptor species such as owls, hawks, etc. People travel from all over to view and photograph the birds. Make sure and visit Conowingo. Bald Eagles gather at Conowingo Dam, along the lower Susquehanna River in northern Maryland to fight for fish We hiked 4.2 miles along a former rail line from the parking lot at the Carter-Archer Museum to the dam. I’m walking alongside the Susquehanna River in Harford County, Maryland, just south of Conowingo Hydroelectric Power Station. They're often found numbering several dozen to even a hundred or more! Yet, for people who visit Conowingo Dam in Darlington, Maryland, near the York County border this time of year, that is a common occurrence. The parking lot gates open daily 1 hour before Sunrise and close 1 hour after Sunset. ... Look for eagles in the trees along the shore line and behind the parking. But if you really want to see a lot of eagles at one time, up close, diving for — and often fighting over — fish, […] A BALD EAGLE LOSES HIS FISH MID-AIR. To some, it appeared the the “silent spring” Rachel Carson had warned us about, in her book of the same title, was upon us. The bald eagle never was in danger of going extinct as a species, but there was a very real possibility of our national symbol disappearing from the lower 48 contiguous states. Between November and February, dozens of eagles can be seen from a bird-watching platform at the dam. The encounter takes only a few seconds, but there is no doubt as to what I saw. The water edge level. The trail ends at Stafford Road, just beyond the furnace. The dam also happens to be near the northern boundary of the park, which is a fantastic birding spot … Tour attendees will park in the Shuresville Road parking lot and take a bus to the Conowingo Dam. Thanks for sharing. The riverside wharf was built in 2009 and is a mere 160 feet long. Photographers Conowingo is considered to be one of the best places to watch Bald Eagles for its large concentration of eagles, with the sun nearly always behind the viewer. A beautiful picnic area with views of the Conowingo Dam and the Susquehanna River. ( Log Out /  ( Log Out /  Propelled by the rapid steady strokes of its long powerful wings, a bald eagle zooms over the tops of trees at the edge of the cliff overlooking the river valley below. My journey begins at Fisherman’s Park, a facility built and maintained by the Exelon Corporation, just south of the dam at the end of Shure’s Landing Road. Lychenheim, who used to work on the Hubble Space Telescope for NASA, started the Conowingo Bald Eagles Facebook page nine years ago to provide tips for viewing eagles at the dam. Conowingo Dam and the Chesapeake Bay. At this time of year (late fall), eagles congregate in large numbers providing a great photography opportunities for bird photographers. More than half of the bald eagle’s diet consists of fish. Good to see this blog too. It was a wonderful location having so many of them. My husband is a wildlife photographer that specializes in bird photography. Nearly 200 million tons of sediment pollution have accumulated behind the dam. I hope you get to see many eagles. The address is 2569 Shures Landing Road, Darlington, MD 21034, but there are very few signs. Bald Eagle Conowingo Dam, Darlington, MD . You want to park as close to the Dam as possible because the Black … Try to arrive early, parking can be a problem as there are numerous people who will be there to see the eagles. Eventbrite - Dan's Camera City presents Bald Eagles of Conowingo Dam - Photo Expedition - Wednesday, November 11, 2020 - Find event and ticket information. It is quite the show. The Octoraro Creek Trail is a delightful spot for a short bird walk and because of its strategic location, holds more diversity than you might think. Today, the dam is operated by the Susquehanna Electric Corporation, part of the Exelon Power Corporation. Route 1 becomes Conowingo Road. The photo to the right was shot at 380 mm. But in 1904, after years of decline, much of the town was destroyed by an ice gorge. Familiarity Begets Boredom, or Does it Really? Here you can see our national symbol everywhere from November to February, but bird watchers see hundreds of species of birds throughout the year. Bald Eagle Day, Nov. 10. A beautiful picnic area with views of the Conowingo Dam and the Susquehanna River. Public outcry from a burgeoning environmental movement, sparked in part by Carson’s book, led the EPA to ban DDT for domestic use in 1972, with some exceptions allowed for public health. We live five minutes from Conowingo Dam specifically for eagle photography! Where: Public access to the base of the dam is at 2569 Shures Landing Road, Darlington, Maryland. Every winter well over 100 Bald Eagles gather at Conowingo Dam, along the lower Susquehanna River in northern Maryland to feast on fish which are sucked through the giant turbines as this dam generates electricity for the Baltimore area. By now, most of the snow has melted. view the eagles particularly at the base of the dam. What a wonderful experience and privilege to capture, I so wish I could have been there, I love these one off captures, they are so special to us! There is a paved parking lot for bald eagle watching, at the end of Shures Landing Road, along the south-west side of the river bank of Susquehanna River for watching bald eagles in action over the Susquehanna River. Last weekend we got up early and headed to Conowingo Dam to photograph Bald Eagles. Past the 2 mile marker, I come across a 20-foot high stone tower topped with a brick dome. Eagles soar high above the river as they hunt and they often fly into the trees which line the parking lot. Bald eagles can often be seen on the Glen Cove to Conowingo Dam section of the trail, especially in the winter. Bald eagles are not averse to carrion, and have been observed dining on dead animals, including beached whales. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. A bald eagle sits in a tree above the Susquehanna River at the Conowingo Dam. ( Log Out /  This is the phone number (1-888-457-4076) for the release schedule. The young hatch from mid-April through early May, and fledge sometime between late June and early July. In particular, younger eagles (as evidenced by their not totally white heads) are not “afraid” of people will often land in trees right above the fence line. 1) Look for eagles in the trees along the shore line and behind the parking. This paved observation parking lot is near the Conowingo … Past the 1.75 mile marker, the trail makes an abrupt 90-degree angle turn to the right and passes over a wooden footbridge straddling the canal. Drive to Conowingo Dam, park at Susquehanna State Park, then take a five mile run while watching for bald eagles. Join us for a special photo expedition to Conowingo Dam - an amazing place to see bald eagles in the wild, catching fish on the river. Still plenty of eagles around, but fishing is hard for them with the churning water. The Conowingo Dam is located on the Susquehanna River in northeastern Maryland, about 8 miles above where I-95 crosses the river. To my left and right are several ladies and gentlemen, most of them appearing to be over fifty years of age (as I am), most fiddling with various expensive-looking cameras and binoculars and telescopes, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the largest bird of prey in North America. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. When … Annual visit to Conowingo Dam to see hundreds of eagles. On Saturday, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Exelon will host this year's Eagle Day at the Conowingo Dam Fisherman's Wharf and Park below the dam. Take the very windy road for 0.7 miles to Shure’s Landing and make a very sharp left. I also have the fast action shots coming up if you are interested. Bald Eagle Drops Its Catch Conowingo Dam, Darlington, MD . The generation schedule can be accessed by the following phone numbers. There is no animal that will prey on an healthy adult bald eagle; they stand at the top of the food chain. Details Details Visitors can learn about the history of Conowingo Hydroelectric Generating Station, the role of hydroelectricity as a renewable clean energy source and the ecology, wildlife and recreational activities that exist in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. We got there around 7 am and all was quiet. For groups of six or more, call toll-free 1-833-257-8687. It includes almost daily posts of images by photographers of all skill levels. During major floods caused by large storms, powerful floodwaters can scoop out or “scour” the stored sediment behind the dam … Cannot load blog information at this time. Conowingo Visitor Center. HOW TO FREEZE THIS MOMENT? The Conowingo Dam (also Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant, Conowingo Hydroelectric Station) is a large hydroelectric dam in the lower Susquehanna River near the town of Conowingo, Maryland.The medium-height, masonry gravity dam is one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the U.S. With the remarkable comeback of the bald eagle nationwide in the last couple of decades, few Lancaster County residents have not seen the majestic raptor at one time or another. Nest-building or reinforcing usually takes place in mid-February, and one to three eggs are laid in late February. 1775 Susquehanna River Road (MD Route 222), Conowingo, MD 21918 (410) 996-8101. Amazing. We live five minutes from Conowingo Dam specifically for eagle photography! It’s late morning in late February, four weeks after a record-breaking snowfall. In October it was incredible. I have maintained the Conowingo to Broad Creek section since 1987. November 11 & 13 - Join us for a special photo expedition to Conowingo Dam - an amazing place to see bald eagles in the wild, catching fish on the river. The Octoraro Creek Trail is a delightful spot for a short bird walk and because of its strategic location, holds more diversity than you might think. Get Directions. Basically, follow the signs to Conowingo Fisherman's Park. I really needed more than two days here. They will winter as far north as open water is available, while populations in more northerly areas will fly south for the winter. There were two eagles in the … Patrick D Hahn is an Affiliate Professor of Biology at Loyola University Maryland and a freelance writer. The decline and resurgence of the bald eagle population is one of the most resounding success stories in the history of wildlife management. Despite some bad visibility, thick fog can sometimes add a mysterious mood to your shots. The wildlife park is run and maintained by Exelon Corporation, the owner of the hydroelectric plant. The eagle alights on one of the trees for a moment, then takes to the air again, wheeling in a great semi-circle before soaring over the crest and disappearing from view. view the eagles particularly at the base of the dam. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Witness bald eagles in the wild from Conowingo Fisherman's Park in Darlington, Maryland. It would be a long drive from Buffalo, but worth the trip. The trail is great. At this time of year (late fall), eagles congregate in large numbers providing a great photography opportunities for bird photographers. I think if I had advice to offer, it would be spend more than an hour here. Conowingo offers easy and accessible eagle watching and photography, especially in late fall and winter. Park in the middle of the parking section so you are located at the best viewing spot in front of the two large towers. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! It will be very cold there this weekend. Share your experiences in the comments. The Conowingo Dam is located in the Northeastern region of Maryland, which is about 9.9 miles (16 km) from the river mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and about 5 miles (8 km) south of the Pennsylvania border, and 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Baltimore. Here you can see our national… Bald Eagles, Black and White Photography, Conowingo Dam MD, Foggy Morning On the way to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Dover, Delaware last Saturday morning (Dec. 12), we stopped by Conowingo Dam to see if we might get lucky to capture some bald eagle images. At one time this town boasted forges, furnaces, mills, a boarding house, a school, and a post office. The reason some countries stopped using DDT to control mosquitoes was because overuse of that pesticide led to the development of resistance – just as Rachel Carson had warned. They also have been observed preying on domestic sheep and calves, although this is rare. Eventbrite - Dan's Camera City presents Bald Eagles of Conowingo Dam - Photo Expedition - Wednesday, November 11, 2020 - Find event and ticket information. Octoraro Creek Trail at Conowingo Park. Good God…Look at that guy’s camera! I found this place not particularly easy to find since my GPS is not updated. The generation schedule can be accessed by the following phone numbers. Photo of Stafford Flint Furnace courtesy of the author. Adult bald eagles weigh up to fifteen pounds, with wingspans as great as eight feet in length. There were Eagles on the rocks across the river, Eagles and black vultures on the transmission towers on the island and Eagles in the trees above the parking area all morning. It would be remiss not to mention that an entire cottage industry has sprung up, asserting that Carson's admonitions led to the banning of DDT, and in turn 100 million deaths due to malaria. 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