Six months after the Schoharie County Eagle Trail took flight, SEEC and wildlife photographer Bill Coombs Jr., the man behind the birds, unveiled the Cobleskill Reservoir Viewing Site storyboard Tuesday.
The sign celebrates the reservoir’s eagles—Cobleskill namesakes John Jacob and Anna Maria Kobel—offers tips on how to behave around and protect eagles, and includes a QR code link to the SCET’s four main viewing sites.
Tom Putnam, Fenimore Asset CEO and a founding member of SEEC, funded the sign and spoke to what Mr. Coombs is doing to promote the trail and eagles.
“We’re very fortunate to have someone like you here,” he told Mr. Coombs.
SEEC launched the Eagle Trail in April.
Mr. Coombs has worked with DEC to identify the best nests for viewing, but also spots that don’t disturb the eagles.
If you know where to look, he said, there are a dozen other nests throughout Schoharie County, and though he shares photos of the birds there, he doesn’t reveal their location.
While Mr. Coombs was waiting for SEEC reps to arrive Tuesday, he watched as one of the eagles swooped down to snatch a fish out of the reservoir, then take it to a tree to eat.
It’s not that an unusual site for eagle-viewers willing to put in the time, he said, and since it was launched, the SCET has gained fans from as far away as Saratoga and Long Island.
About half are serious birders or photographers, he said; the others are looking for a casual day trip.
SEEC conceived of the Eagle Trail as a way to promote one of the county’s natural resources while boosting tourism and local spending.
In the 1970’s, there was one known eagle nest in the state.
Today there are 508.
Though migrating eagles have been passing through the county, Mr. Coombs said the resident couples and their offspring will remain throughout the winter, switching their diet from fish to rabbits and road kill.