(Jan. 12, 2017) For the past several years, the Pocomoke River State Park, between Snow Hill and Pocomoke City along Route 113, has hosted Eagle Watches in January to better acquaint visitors and residents with the U.S. National Emblem.
“People are seeing more and more bald eagles, and we want to give them a close-up look so they can learn some more,” park ranger Stephanie Venarchick said. “I hope it will also get people out to see our park — maybe they don’t even know it’s here.”
There is a $10 fee per person to take part in the watch, with an optional, hour-long boat tour available for an additional $20 per person. Reservations are required, and can be made by contacting Venarchick at the park at 410-632-2566. The tour is limited to about ten people per outing, with three trips — at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. — on each of the next three Saturdays.
Venarchick said the tours fill quickly.
The watch is organized around a central hub of activity with displays and live animals to see.
“We’ll have a fire, hot chocolate and snacks, plus the concession stand will be open. We’ll have birds of prey out for display,” she said. “The rest is really up to each person.”
Venarchick said she would have other displays, such as a wingspan chart so visitors can see how their own wingspan compares to several different kinds of birds, as well as a demonstration of the effects the use of DDT had on bald eagles.
“We have a crusher, so visitors can see how much weight an egg can hold. Plus, we’ll have an experiment that will demonstrate how DDT impacted the shell strength of bald eagle eggs,” she said.
Another demonstration, called “fill the bill,” shows how birds evolved specified tools — beaks — to aid food gathering in their specific environments.
From there, visitors can expand out at their own discretion.
Each section of the watch, the tour and the boat ride, will have a naturalist accompanying it, so questions about eagles or any other encountered species can be easily answered.
“The boats tour runs along the Pocomoke River and will feature some river history,” she said. “Then we’ll tally how many bald eagles we see and we’ll compare that to what’s been observed in the past.”
Venarchick said colder weather is better and, on average, the tour is very likely to see at least a couple eagles.
“On average we see a couple. It’s going to be more than one,” she said.
“People are seeing more and more bald eagles, and we want to give them a close-up look so they can learn some more,” park ranger Stephanie Venarchick said. “I hope it will also get people out to see our park — maybe they don’t even know it’s here.”
There is a $10 fee per person to take part in the watch, with an optional, hour-long boat tour available for an additional $20 per person. Reservations are required, and can be made by contacting Venarchick at the park at 410-632-2566. The tour is limited to about ten people per outing, with three trips — at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. — on each of the next three Saturdays.
Venarchick said the tours fill quickly.
The watch is organized around a central hub of activity with displays and live animals to see.
“We’ll have a fire, hot chocolate and snacks, plus the concession stand will be open. We’ll have birds of prey out for display,” she said. “The rest is really up to each person.”
Venarchick said she would have other displays, such as a wingspan chart so visitors can see how their own wingspan compares to several different kinds of birds, as well as a demonstration of the effects the use of DDT had on bald eagles.
“We have a crusher, so visitors can see how much weight an egg can hold. Plus, we’ll have an experiment that will demonstrate how DDT impacted the shell strength of bald eagle eggs,” she said.
Another demonstration, called “fill the bill,” shows how birds evolved specified tools — beaks — to aid food gathering in their specific environments.
From there, visitors can expand out at their own discretion.
Each section of the watch, the tour and the boat ride, will have a naturalist accompanying it, so questions about eagles or any other encountered species can be easily answered.
“The boats tour runs along the Pocomoke River and will feature some river history,” she said. “Then we’ll tally how many bald eagles we see and we’ll compare that to what’s been observed in the past.”
Venarchick said colder weather is better and, on average, the tour is very likely to see at least a couple eagles.
“On average we see a couple. It’s going to be more than one,” she said.