Best of Long Island Wildlife Photography 3-9-2017

By Mike Busch

We have to start this week off with a sad note from our friends at the Long Island National Wildlife Complex at Wertheim in Shirley.

Workers there found the remains of an immature Bald Eagle that was apparently hit by a train over the Winter while feeding on carrion.

Refuge staff sent the eagle to the National Eagle Repository (https://www.fws.gov/eaglerepository/index.php), which shares the feathers and bones with federally recognized Native Americans tribes to use in their cultural ceremonies and practices.

While we can’t be sure, there is a good chance it was one of the two Eaglets that successfully fledged from a local nest last year.

Not much we can do about trains, but still very unfortunate to see. Here is a shot of one of the pair’s first flights last summer.

On a brighter note, March is feeling more like February but the clocks change Saturday and we know Spring will break any time.

It will be interesting to watch the changes in the species posted over the next several weeks as many of our winter ducks will be gone and the early spring migration begins.

Luckily the Long Island Wildlife Photography group doesn’t worry about a little cold and posted some absolutely amazing shots this week.

There were a few uncommon finds this week including an American Woodcock, Rough-legged Hawk, Black Vultures and even a live Seahorse returned safely to the water.

This weeks cover shot goes to Vicki Jauron who captured some Dunlins in amazing light.