Weekend Specials

In a state known for its abundance of sports and entertainment industry celebrities, it will be a star of the feathered kind that grabs the attention of photographers for the next month or so - the bald eagle. Now through the end of March is the perfect time to observe these majestic creatures as they soar or perch on branches high above their fishing sites. During the 1800s and early 1900s, New York was home to more than 70 nesting pairs of bald eagles, and was the chosen wintering grounds of several hundred. By 1960, the state had only one known active bald eagle nest remaining, and the number of wintering visitors had been reduced to less than a few dozen. A national ban on DDT in 1972, prohibitions against taking or killing bald eagles in the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the initiation of New York's Endangered Species Program in 1976 began a dramatic turnaround for our national symbol. Today an estimated 150-200 bald eagles migrate through the state each year. New York State offers a combination of open water and colder temperatures to create the perfect atmosphere for these regal creatures.                 Courtesy I Love NY Staff