The Hudson River Foundation program, “A River for all Seasons,” offers a series of educational field trips for general audiences. They include visits to shoreline points along the lower estuary which are participatory and offer a blend of history, culture, and Hudson River ecology. The programs are led by Christopher Letts, the Foundation’s educator. Mr. Letts has spent more than three decades working on and along the Hudson as a commercial fisherman, teacher and researcher. Through the years he has collected many tales and a great deal of lore about the river which participants of all ages will find fascinating. He and his colleagues are eager to show the best place to see a full moon rise, where the flounders swim and where the bald eagles fly. An outing with Chris Letts to the “river for all seasons” will give you a wonderful sense of the richness of the Hudson‘s culture, history and ecology.
BALD EAGLE VIEWING PROGRAMS, HUDSON RIVER, 2009
The recovery of the bald eagle in New York State has made it possible to see eagles year-round, especially near nesting sites. The best viewing opportunities, however, come in the winter months when scores, and sometimes hundreds, of birds arrive from deep-frozen territories to the north and east of the lower Hudson Valley, where they can be seen fishing and interacting in many ways.
The following programs take you to easily reached viewing areas where the presence of people is not alarming to the birds. This year, our programs are geared for the "early birds" among us and begin around the time of sunrise, when hungry birds are coming off the night roosts and taking up daytime positions. A winter sunrise, the comfort of your warm vehicle for a "blind" and a tree or ice floe full of bald eagles... well worth rolling out of bed a little early!
All programs begin at 7:00 AM, in all weather and are free of charge. The first program on January 10 has the special appeal of sunrise and the setting of the full moon nearly coincident. High magnification spotting scopes will be available for your use.
On these dates meet in the lower parking lot of Georges Island Park Westchester County:
- January 10, 7:00 AM
- January 24, 7:00 AM
- February 8, 7:00 AM
DIRECTIONS: The entrance to the lower parking lot of Georges Island Park in Montrose is off the Old Post Road (Route 9A), just to the north of the FDR Veterans Hospital. Turn at the County Park sign and proceed 1 mile to the park and waterfront.
On these dates meet in the parking lot at the Croton River railroad bridge, Croton-on-Hudson:
- January 17, 7:00 AM
- January 25, 7:00 AM
- February 7, 7:00 AM
DIRECTIONS: From Routes 9/9A in Croton-on-Hudson, turn onto Croton Point Avenue (1/2 miles north of the Croton River and Bridge). Go west toward the river and take first left onto Veterans Plaza. Drive south 1/2 miles, past the Croton RR station and parking lots, to the Croton River RR bridge.
