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, 2012
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. Last year, our programs were geared for the "early birds" among us and began 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!
Croton Point Park
- Saturday, January 28, 8:00am
- Sunday, January 29, 8:00am
Croton Point Park directions: From Routes 9/9A, turn west onto Croton Point Ave (from south, make a left; from north, make a right). After about 100 yards, you will see the Railroad Station and parking lot on the left. Turn left as if you are going to the station. Go about 1/2 mile past station to the end of the road and look for the group in the parking lot.
Georges Island Park
- Sunday, February 5, 3:00pm
- Sunday, February 12, 8:00am
Georges Island Park, Westchester County 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.
HRF Bald Eagle Viewing Programs are free and open the public. No reservations are required. If there are questions about the weather, please call 914-739-3222 right before the Bald Eagle Viewing.
