As both winter tourists and as a smaller nesting population, these eagles are a major part of our Hudson River community. When you hear of their sightings day after day, share in the excitement of the viewer. No one ever tires of seeing a bald eagle or of hearing a well-told tale of their exploits. A young bird lacks the white but is just as big. Eagles soar on flat wings the size of ironing boards.
Vultures fix their broad wings in a shallow V called a dihedral.
Ospreys, rare in winter, usually soar with wings crooked in gull-like fashion. Eagles are the largest bird in the sky over the Hudson, and when you see them perched along the river you will notice a posture, an expression, that says I own this spot. Even in a warm year, by December s end ice will be forming in backwater areas, marshes, and quiet stretches of the tributaries. Creeping out from shore, the ice grows each night, and survives further into each day as the sun s strength wanes. At month's end many bird clubs and interpretive centers will have their Christmas Bird Counts.