After 27 years of watching loons and eagles on Foss Pond, this year we have seen some very different behavior. Over this time span a pair of loons has been present throughout each breeding season, while the sightings of eagles has been spotty - some years none seen, while other years 2-4 views.
This year we spotted a pair of mature eagles in February (2/10), a first year in March (3/24), and during the summer eagles have been seen very frequently. Of special note is that the loon alarm calls have alerted us to the otherwise mute predators. We have noted over the years that the loons often sound alarm calls (high and trilling - tremolos) for low-flying planes (often float-planes out of Greenville) and helicopters. This year we believe that we have noted a more urgent and elaborated alarm call when an eagle glides over the pond, usually at a height of 300-500 feet. Vermont Fish and Wildlife suggests that there are at least three stages of alarm - these raptor alarm calls might be the most urgent. Consequently, we have looked and seen an eagle (usually adult, but also juvenile) with much more frequency, sometimes day after day. Very thorough searches around the 100 acre pond have indicated no eagle nest.
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