Field Notes: What’s in the Woods Today ? December 21, 2018
December 21, 2018 2:36 pm
by Forester Lisa Deaton
Surprises
We expect to see Christmas trees at Christmas tree farms, but this decorated eastern red cedar is located on the edge of a 2-year old pine plantation.
On a recent rainy day, the bald eagle below appeared to be hunting in a clearcut.
One of my favorite things about this time of year on the Middle Peninsula is hearing the tundra swans fly overhead. A bald eagle’s call is quite the contrast. Listen here.
The bald eagle population has made a notable recovery since DDT was banned [Richmond Times article], and we see them quite often in the Chesapeake Bay region. With 272 breeding pairs along the James River in 2017, that eagle population appears to be reaching carrying capacity. The next time you hear that unique bird call, look up and you may see a bald eagle.
Several years ago, as I was driving along Route 30 towards West Point, I saw an eagle steal a dead opossum from a group of vultures on the side of the road. Much to my surprise, it tried to make its getaway straight towards my car. At the last minute, it dropped the opossum on the road directly in front of me in order to clear the roof of my car. I was very relieved that I did not hit the eagle or the opossum.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay, Christmas Tree, Wildlife
Category: Administration, Education, Water Quality