EAGLE NEWS: We’ve had a couple sightings of American bald eagles
nearby, most significantly one in Smethport!

About a week ago, we had a call from dentist Jim Kane who had
spotted an eagle on Willow Street between his office and the
library. Marvin Creek is behind his office and the eagle was making
itself at home on the ice.

One of his assistants said later that this big white-headed bird
was feasting on a fish, probably a carp, and other birds were
nearby. The eagle ate for awhile and then took off, with the crows
coming in to “clean up.”

We also heard from the people at the Allegheny National Forest
about sightings of eagles near the Kinzua Dam.

Interestingly, these are not the usual eagles in the region.
Instead, they are winter bald eagles which travel from Ontario and
Quebec to the Kinzua Dam each year. And they are not nesting but
traveling in search of food.

As for the summer eagles, they nest during the warmer months and
then (wisely) fly south for the winter.

September Wilhelm, district biologist at the Bradford Ranger
Station, said there is still open water on the Allegheny Reservoir
allowing them to continue feeding.

She said the eagles can be see flying along the Allegheny
Reservoir or sitting on the islands below the dam spillway. They
can be seen from the parking lot at the dam itself, or by driving
along Route 59 toward Warren.

Last year, someone reported seeing 18 eagles on those
islands.

MORE FUEL: Greg Vickery follows up on ARG’s recent comment about
fuel prices: “Same question, different fuel. The Flying J near
Ashtabula, Ohio, is selling diesel fuel for $2.37 compared to $2.59
in the Bradford area. They purchase diesel fuel from ARG.
Considering transportation cost, how can this be? I wonder if ARG
sells diesel fuel to the local retailers for the same price they
charge the Flying J? If they don’t, shame on them. If they do, then
shame on the local retailers. Or is it shame on both of them?”

TODAY’S QUOTE: “(Journalists) are the guardians of the people’s
right to know, not of transient administrations who misuse and
abuse their power, often to muzzle the press,” said Helen Thomas,
columnist, Hearst News Service, 2006. As always, our quote is
courtesy of our Freedom Forum calendar.