Falls of the Ohio

I met Karen out at the Falls of the Ohio on Saturday to scope out the eagle and Osprey nests.  A Bald Eagle was on the nest, though it could barely be made out from across the river.  All you could see through the scope was a white head sticking up above the branches of the nest.  The Osprey was a little more visible flying though the sky with sticks in hand, rebuilding the nest.  He got caught in a headwind at one point and actually looked like he was flying backwards for a bit as he was desperately trying to get a stick to his nest.  The nests can be seen at the Clark Cabin site, south of the main park.  Here is a map of the two sites, also check the map below to see where the park is in relation to you.



View Falls of the Ohio in a larger map

The Falls of the Ohio is an Indiana state park right across the river from Louisville.  Likely you have heard of it because of the 390 million year old Devonian fossils that can be found on the exposed ancient sea floor.  It is known as the Falls of the Ohio because originally there was a series of rapids caused by rock outcrops.  However, the falls have mostly been flooded by the McAlpine Dam which was built in 1830.

So I'm still getting my feet wet experimenting with video.  I took this video from the Clark Cabin site and also from Ashland Park.  Both places provide great views of the city.  The wind was a bit heavy at times so if it looks like the video is a bit jumpy, that is why.

Posted in: Falls of the Ohio

The Eagles have returned!

Last spring, Tom & Colleen Becker, local birding enthusiasts, discovered a pair of Bald Eagles were nesting in the Great Blue Heron Rookery on Shippingport Island. (Shippingport Island is where the McAlpine Locks are located). While it turned out to be unsuccessful, it was the first time in many years that Bald Eagles had attempted to nest in Jefferson County, Ky. Needless to say it was a very exciting event in Louisville!

Many of us in the birding community have had our fingers crossed for their return this year.

On March 6, 2011, my husband and I stopped by the Clark Cabin site at Falls of the Ohio to check the nest. (Clark Cabin site will provide you with the best vantage point to see the Eagle nest) Surprisingly, an Eagle was sitting on the nest! I immediately posted my findings to the listserves for both Kentucky and Indiana.

I know that Del Striegel, a local birder & volunteer at Falls of the Ohio, had checked on the nest approximately 10 days prior and saw no activity. So, we have to assume they returned and started sitting on the nest within that ten day span. According to the website www.baldeagles.org, the incubation period for Bald Eagles is approximately 35 days. Let’s all continue to keep those fingers crossed, and maybe in a few weeks we’ll have Eaglets to blog about!!

Just think, a little over a year ago, this blogger had never seen a Bald Eagle in the wild! Now, all I have to do is, go down to the river!

Posted in: Bald Eagle,Falls of the Ohio