Conowingo Eagles (Rating: C)

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.

(9ish-mile, flat, riverside out-and-back fitness and nature hike to view Conowingo Dam's famous bald eagles.)

DESCRIPTION: We'll hike at a moderate pace (2.5 to 3 mph with several stops for whatever nature we find) from the gorgeous stone Rock Run Grist Mill along the scenic Susquehanna River to Conowingo Dam, which is famous for attracting eagles for its feast of fishes. (The fish are stunned after their fall from the dam, making for easy pickings by eagles, cormorants, and other birds.) At the dam we'll stop for at least 1/2 hour or more, depending on the eagle activity and hikers' desires.

Most of our hike will be in Susquehanna State Park on a wide fire-road type dirt trail, along with a couple of miles of single track, and possibly a short portion of unimproved dirt trail with railroad tracks still crossing it.
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/documents/ssp_map.pdf

EAGLE ACTIVITY: Around Thanksgiving, eagles from the south and north are reportedly drawn to the dam -- along with scores of photographers with pricey long lenses. Photographers mainly like to capture the eagles catching their fishes and flying with them. And some like to focus on fights! Sometimes subadult to adult eagles fight each other for the fishes, flipping upside down and clasping talons. It's the Wild West of the bird world! Some eagles bring their fish suppers to the trail side of the river to eat them so even without binoculars, we can probably see some of them relatively up close, depending on how long we stay. While some eagles come close as they fish, you can virtually always find gobs of them hanging out on the boulders and trees across the river with cormorants, herons, and other birds. So BINOCULARS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. We could see from a dozen eagles to a hundred. It varies on the eagles, the wind speed and direction, the temperature, precipitation,and the rate of water flow from the dam. Some eagles also nest along the river and live there year round.

IMPORTANT NOTES: ADULTS ONLY & NO PETS. Finish time of 3:30 pm is approximate for planning purposes depending in large part on how much time we choose to spend watching the eagles at our lunchtime turnaround spot and if we spy any nature along the way. It's about 100 miles or roughly a 1.5 to 2-hour drive (withOUT traffic) on I-95 from Fairfax.

MEETING PLACE, SUSQUEHANNA STATE PARK:
9:30 a.m., at the Rock Run Grist Mill in Susquehanna State Park. Here's the park's official address but DO NOT USE IT for a map/directions: 4122 Wilkinson Rd., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (Overflow parking available up the hill behind the restroom building.)
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/susquehanna.aspx
USE THE FOLLOWING GPS COORDINATES FOR MAP/DIRECTIONS and be aware that Google usually gives you at least two routes into the park. I PERSONALLY ADVISE avoiding the Lapidum Road entrance and Stafford Road east of the gristmill.
Copy these coordinates into Google Maps: 39.607930, -76.142324
And/or click here for the Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EnZWr5TgKjupQnci8

TRAIL MAPS:
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/Susquehanna/Trails.aspx
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/documents/ssp_map.pdf

BRING: Sense of humor, sense of awe, water, and lunch. IMPORTANT: Bring extra WARM clothing (coat, hat, gaiter, scarf, gloves, etc.) in your backpack for our lunch because it feels FREEZING where we will stand/sit and watch the eagles, especially if it's windy. Optional but highly recommended: camera and/or binoculars.

RESTROOMS: At start and at our turnaround point.

WEATHER: Rain or snow cancels. A weather update will be posted here by 5 pm on 12/5.

BALD EAGLE FUN FACTS: Females are bigger than males, juveniles don't have white tails and white heads until about age 5, they can live to be at least 38 years old, and they sometimes prefer snatching a fish from another bird to fishing themselves. Around DC proper, some begin nesting in December. Oh, yeah. And the bald eagle was chosen the national emblem of the good ol' US of A in 1782. (But eagles weren't truly protected until 1940, when Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, making it illegal to possess, kill, or sell them.)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/overview

HOW TO AGE A BALD EAGLE:
https://avianreport.com/age-and-identify-a-juvenile-and-sub-adult-bald-eagle/

EBIRD CONOWINGO DAM:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L189368
EBIRD SUSQUEHANNA STATE PARK:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L447466
CONOWINGO ON BIRDER’S GUIDE TO MARYLAND & DC:https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/conowingo-dam-fishermans-park/

CONOWINGO DAM:
https://www.facebook.com/exelonrecreation/
https://www.constellationenergy.com/our-company/locations/location-sites/conowingo-hydroelectric-generating-station.html
CONOWINGO SPILL GATE HOTLINES: 1-877-457-2525, 1-888-457-4076
CONOWINGO PHONE #S FOR SPILL-GATE ACTIVITY:
https://cleanchesapeakecoalition.org/spill-gates-hotline/
Conowingo Spill Hotline (877) 457-2525
For the number of crest gates open and peak river flows.
Conowingo Generation Hotline (888) 457-4076
For the number of units operating and Conowingo Pond elevations.