Pipestem Winter Eagle Survey
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
January 5, 2008

Thirty-one volunteers were stationed at twelve different sites along thirty-five miles of the New River from Glen Lyn, VA to Sandstone, WV. Seven of the twelve sites experienced eagle sightings during the day. Based on the notes (see below) from these observers we had at least nine bald eagles (four adults, two 1st year birds, one 2nd year bird, two 3rd year birds) and one golden eagle (immature) for the day. We also know from the Pipestem Area Christmas Bird Count, December 15, 2007 and Betsy Reeder's observation on January 6, 2008 that we have an adult golden eagle in the vicinity.

Glen Lyn, VA - Jim & Judy Phillips saw no eagles.

Cedar Branch, Bluestone WMA - Jesse Anderson observed an immature bald eagle perched and preening from 10:20 - 10:40. It then flew toward the north.

Mouth of Indian Creek, Bluestone WMA -Barry Williams & Bob Baker saw no eagles.

Bull Falls, Bluestone WMA -Tony Mattox saw an immature golden eagle fly by going down river at 10:30.

Bertha, Bluestone WMA - Allen & Mindy Waldron, Mark Mullins & Alma Lowry watched a 3rd year bald eagle from 10:10 to 2:10. It was seen perched and feeding on the ground and in a tree. At 1:30 a second 3rd year bald eagle joined the first bird. At 1:40 a 2nd year bird appeared. All three were in view at the same time from 1:45-2:10.

Mouth of the Bluestone River, Bluestone S.P. - Brian Hirt, Donald Akers, Chuck and Ellen Keefer saw an adult bald eagle at 12:35. It flew across the lake and landed in a tree. It was last seen at 12:50 when it flew toward Bluestone Darn.

Fishing Pier, Bluestone S.P. -David & Cindy Caldwell had a brief look at an immature eagle (species not determined) just before 2:00.

Rt. 20 Bluestone Lake Overlook, Bluestone S.P. -Ron & Wendy Perrone had bald eagles in view during the entire period. During the day they had 2 adults, 2 different 1st year birds and 1 3rd year bird. They were joined part of the time by Ann & Grady McRae.

Bellepoint Park, U.S. Army Corps -Rodney Davis, Bob Farley, Betsy Reeder, Kermit Stover, Tim & Ellen Pyles saw no eagles.

1/2 mile above Sandstone Falls, New River Gorge National River -Kathleen Holloway and Lisa Clemmer saw an adult bald eagle perched at 10:30. At 1:15 while they were watching an adult bald eagle perched in a tree, a second adult bald eagle flew in.

Sandstone Visitor's Center, New River Gorge National River -Richard Altare saw no eagles.

Prepared by

Jim Phillips

Pipestem State Park

Pipestem Winter Eagle Survey
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
January 6, 2007

Shanklin’s Ferry, Bluestone WMA - Bill & Peggy Opengari saw two adult bald eagles fly up river at 10:00 a.m. At 12:15, two adult bald eagles were soaring where the earlier birds had been seen.

Bertha, Bluestone WMA - Allen & Mindy Waldron, Cheryl Miller, Mark Mullins & Alma Lowry saw 2 adult bald eagles soaring in from the east and heading down river between 10:30 and 10:45. At 11:50, an adult bald eagle came down river past them.

Mouth of the Bluestone River, Bluestone S.P. - Brian Hirt, Betty Harler, Leah Thomas, Karen Ryan & Susan Harlan saw 2 adult bald eagles soaring between 1:30 and 1:45. A fisherman told them there had been 3 adult bald eagles there earlier in the day.

McKeever Lodge, Pipestem S.P. - Cara Vance thought she had a golden eagle over the Bluestone Gorge. From her message, I think it was more likely a rough- legged hawk.

Handicap Fishing Pier, Bluestone S.P. - Lisa Clemmer & Kathy Holloway saw an immature golden eagle soaring from 10:00 to 10:15, 10:45 to 11:00 and 11:45 to 12:00. From 11:30 to 12:00 they had 2 immature bald eagles.

Bellepoint Park, Army Corps - Rodney Davis & Cotty Farley saw 2 bald eagles(1 adult, 1 unknown age) kettle and head down river at 10:53.

Unk’l Rays - Jim & Judy Phillips saw no eagles.

Rt. 20 Overlook (north of Hinton) - Ron & Wendy Perrone saw no eagles.

Sandstone Falls, NPS - Richard Altare saw no eagles.

Public Stream Access, Talcott - John & Lynn Mugaas saw no eagles.

Greenbrier River Trail (Beard to Rorrer) - Sharon Kearns saw no eagles.

Wendy Perrone received notice from a researcher in Pennsylvania of a golden eagle with a radio transmitter being tracked to south eastern West Virginia. Could be the bird seen during our survey.

Based on these notes,

it looks like we had

7 bald eagles(5 adults, 2 immatures) and 1 golden eagle (immature).

Compiled by Jim Phillips, Pipestem State Park. Jim can be contacted through this site.

Below are two of our locals. Taken by a National Parks Service employee on the New River between Sandstone and Hinton, West Virginia

Pipestem Winter Eagle Survey
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
January 7, 2006 

Shanklin’s Ferry, Bluestone WMA - Bill & Peggy Opengari. One adult bald eagle flying up river at 10:45. 

Mouth of Indian Creek, Bluestone WMA - Jesse Anderson. One immature golden eagle rode a thermal and headed east at 10:45. 

Bull Falls, Bluestone WMA - Jim & Judy Phillips. No eagles. 

Bertha, Bluestone WMA - Nancy Ford, Alma Lowry, Allen & Mindy Waldron. Two adult bald eagles perched across the river from 1:20 to 2:00 p.m. At 2:00, one bird flew down river out of sight. The other bird was still perched at 2:10. 

Mouth of the Bluestone River, Bluestone State Park - Darron Light, Dave, Flynn, Lynn & Rebecca Pollard. Two adult bald eagles were soaring at 10:00 a.m. At noon,  one adult bald eagle was chasing crows or ravens. From 1:30 to 1:45 two adult bald eagles were soaring. One adult bald eagle was soaring from 1:45 to 2:00. 

Fishing Pier, Bluestone S.P. - Crissy Clark & Sean Pettrey. One adult bald eagle circling above the north end of the Lilly Bridge heading to the east at 10:01 a.m. 

Bellepoint Park, U.S. Army Corps - Rodney Davis & Margaret Hank. No eagles.

Unk’l Rays, Hinton - Ron & Wendy Perrone. No eagles.

1^st NPS Pull-off below Madam’s Creek - Brian McMillan. No eagles.

Brooks Falls, NPS - David & Cindy Caldwell. No eagles.

Sandstone Falls, NPS - Richard Altare. No eagles.

Sandstone P.O. - Lisa Clemmer & Kathleen Holloway. No eagles.  

Our January 7, 2006 survey shows that we have at least four adult bald eagles and one immature golden eagle along New River from Shanklin’s Ferry to Sandstone, WV. An immature bald eagle was seen near Bluestone Dam on January 5, 2006 and one at Narrows, VA on December 26, 2005.

Compiled by Jim Phillips, Pipestem State Park. Jim can be contacted through this site.