East Greenwich Woman Records Bald Eagle Pecking at Frozen Bay

This winter has been full of surprises, from the multiple feet of snowpack, broomstick-length icicles and subzero temperatures night after night.

And for Sara Schwartz of East Greenwich, you can add the sight of a bald eagle in the midst of Sunday’s snowstorm to the list.

Schwartz posted this video to the East Greenwich Patch Facebook page. It shows a bald eagle on Greenwich Bay from the vantage point of Greenwich Bay Townhomes.

The video was taken on Feb. 15. Though the image quality is not the best, the unmistakable profile of the eagle, which symbolizes the freedom, strength and independence of the United States, is still a sight to behold.

The eagle was pecking at the ice, perhaps trying to find something to eat.

“This is so cool!” Schwartz said as she captured the chilly scene.

After a few moments alighted on the iced water, the majestic bird of prey flew away.

“There he goes!”

Bald eagle sightings in Rhode Island have become increasingly common in recent years to coincide with expansion of the bird’s population thanks to a decades-long conservation effort, reductions in the use of certain pesticides like DDT and captive breeding programs.

Reoports at www.baldeagleinfo.com in Rhode Island have come from across the entire state at an increasing frequency, including 10 sightings since Jan. 1 of this year alone.

Another recent sighting nearby was on Dec. 28 in Wickford when Jacqueline Daly said she saw one fly over her car as she was driving down Boston Neck Road.

“It was huge and majestic,” she said. “At first, I thought I was imagining it because I didn’t know they were in Rhode Island but it was unmistakably an adult large bald eagle. Incredibly beautiful.”

The rebounding population of bald eagles in Rhode Island is a homecoming of sorts. The bird historically had a strong foothold in New England and they often came to Rhode Island to winter or find new habitats.

Ornithologist Charles Clarkson told RIPR that many transient bald eagles come to the state because there are still food sources during the winter months since most of the bodies of water don’t freeze over, though that is quickly changing this year.

Rhode Island now has three or four nesting pairs of bald eagles and with conservation efforts, including ongoing measures to preserve open space here in the Ocean State, it is likely the population will continue to expand and sightings will become more common.

Have you seen a bald eagle? Let us know in the comments!