CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A record number of bald eagles have been spotted this year by volunteers tracking the fall migration of birds of prey at Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory, atop Peters Mountain in Monroe County.
Since early August, 195 bald eagles have been sighted by observers using a former U.S. Forest Service fire tower mounted on a boulder at the crest of the 3,812-foot peak in the Jefferson National Forest. The previous record for bald eagles sighted at Hanging Rock was set in 2010, when 137 were sighted.
Hanging Rock has been the site of annual raptor migration counts by West Virginia birders since 1952.
This year’s tally, expected to continue for two more weeks, also could produce a record number of golden eagle sightings. So far this year, 46 golden eagles have been spotted at Hanging Rock, approaching the record 54 spotted there in 2010…
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201311150128
A bald eagle passes over Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory atop Peters Mountain in Monroe County during this year’s record fall migration.