Just
south of the Pennsylvania border the broad Susquehanna River empties into the
Chesapeake Bay. Creating electricity from the flow of this river that has its
headwaters in Ostego Lake at Cooperstown, New York, is the Conowingo Dam. Route
1 travels over the dam and although the Conowingo is not a proud edifice like the
Hoover, it is quite the tourist attraction. Bald Eagles are readily seen
fishing the waters beneath the dam, mostly from mid-October through January. It
is the greatest gathering of Bald Eagles east of the Mississippi. During the
peak viewing times hundreds of these majestic birds can be seen at one visit,
although lesser numbers of eagles can still be seen throughout the rest of the
year. Several species of gulls, heron and vultures can be readily seen as well,
but it is for the Bald Eagles that people visit the Conowingo.
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| (C) Baltimore Sun |
Birders
and photographers gather here on a daily basis and there is quite a culture
built up around the Bald Eagles. A google search of the Conowingo Dam reveals
how popular (and free) this destination is to curious onlookers as well as
professional-looking photographers. There is even a Facebook page devoted to
the Conowingo Bald Eagles. Don’t fret! Although your lens may not be as big as
those who gather to snap action shots of this symbol of America, you must not
feel inadequate. The Conowingo is worth visiting even if you are just hauling out
an instamatic.
When
the Conowingo releases water to generate electricity with their turbines fish
get trapped in the mechanisms above the dam and get sluiced through to
the other side, often dazed and disoriented. Red caution lights alert the birds
the turbines are opening and the fantastic display of nature begins. This is
the prime time to view the birds as they are the most active. It is possible to
time your visit with the release of water by calling the Conowingo Dam “hot-line”
at: 888-457-4076.
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| Conowingo Dam, looking south |
There
are two places to watch, either down near the water at Fisherman’s Park or
along the fence line across from the island and the twin power towers, although
you can also sit in your car and catch glimpses. Be sure to back into the spot.
Be sure too to dress warmly and to take food for the invariably long wait.
There are picnic tables and portable toilets, but nothing else, so arrive
prepared. The entrance to the viewing area is on the south side of the river.
The street off Route 1 is Shuresville Road then a left onto Shuresville Landing
Road.
I
missed the release of water that day when I recently visited the dam. The
edifice itself was impressive and gulls swirled in the air and vultures perched
on the dam itself, but I did not see a Bald Eagle. Just a few photographers
remained and they were talking among themselves about their craft. They
snickered at me when I hoisted my flip phone to snap a picture, but I ignored
them. It was a mild day and I walked the grounds and read about the fish
elevators that bring spawning fish upstream and about the tours that the
Conowingo Dam authority had recently started up again after 12 years and the
efforts to renew the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license for the 85
year old hydro-electric plant, which will expire on September 1, 2014.
On the
way to the Conowingo Dam I stopped for snacks at the Herr’s Factory tour and
outlet. It’s just a few miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line in Nottingham,
Pennsylvania and directly off the highway. I didn't time the tour well either and did not wait for the next one. Instead I stocked up on supplies and snacked on some chocolate covered pretzel sticks as I visited the Conowingo. The Herr's store is open Monday through Thursday 9 a to 3 p and Fridays for two hours, 9 a to 11 a.
