Bald Eagle Viewing at Shepaug

Make reservations to enjoy a unique opportunity to view bald eagles as they gather near the Shepaug Dam during the winter months. Since 1985, the public has been invited to visit its bald eagle observation area, located near the Shepaug hydroelectric station on the Housatonic River in Southbury, Conn.

The observation area is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays through mid-March. Admission is free but reservations are required. They can be made by calling 1-800-368-8954 Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning in early December.

Possibly the largest concentration of wintering eagles in Connecticut can be seen perching, fishing or flying at this site on the Housatonic River. Other birds seen in the area include red-tail hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, goshawks, great blue herons and a variety of waterfowl.

Visitors gather in a blind with spotting scopes set up to provide excellent viewing. Volunteers can assist viewers, provide information and answer questions. Individuals and school groups are welcome.

The bald eagle is making a comeback thanks to intensive conservation efforts. Pesticide poisoning and direct human interference had decimated bald eagle populations, but the banning of DDT and stronger legal protections, combined with reintroduction and management efforts, have allowed eagle populations to rebound.

In the recent past, eagles were rarely seen during the summer months in Connecticut because nesting did not occur in the state. In 1992 a pair of eagles made Connecticut their home for what was believed to be the first time in 41 years. They began a new generation of eagles, and within a decade there were eight nesting pairs.